It isn't often that several prominent members of the military resale and quality of life (QoL) communities retire, or announce within days of each other that they are leaving their areas of responsibility, but this confluence of leadership changes has given us a unique opportunity to reflect on some of their legacies. The eyes of the world may currently be locked on Iceland's hyperactive volcano, but QoL is having its own share of seismic activity.

Art Myers is an icon in the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) community, where he has long been known for his sterling leadership as director of what is now the Air Force Services Agency. More recently, for a little over a year of his last 50 years of service to the nation's armed forces, he has represented the men and women in uniform and their families at the Pentagon as Principal Director for Military Family and Community Policy (MCFP).

Although perhaps not quite such a familiar face or name — outside of the upper echelons of leadership — in the world of military resale, his advocacy for QoL, including military resale benefits, has been a powerful force for their preservation, enhancement, and improvement where needed.

Myers, who began his career as an Airman Basic, scrubbing pots and pans, has never been afraid to call it like he saw it, and whenever he perceived the welfare of Airmen and other servicemembers and their families to be threatened, he has been among the first to step forward and testify, even if it meant flying into strong headwinds. Likewise, he paid tribute where he saw fit, and E and C News readers may remember when he gave high praise to Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Commander Maj. Gen. Keith L. Thurgood, USA, for his swift, robust and proactive embrace of the relationship between resale and MWR.

Myers retired last month, and his stalwart support for the servicemember and his or her family will be missed, from Capitol Hill to the Department of Defense (DoD) and wherever the military family is served — from the childcare center to foodservice, clubs, hospitality and far, far beyond.

In November 2009, we bade Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Commander Maj. Gen. Keith L. Thurgood, USA, now USAR once again, farewell, and acknowledged his extensive legacy with the exchange service. He served an additional several months beyond his anticipated tenure, and in mid-April, relinquished command to the capable hands of Maj. Gen. Bruce Anthony Casella, USAR. In Thurgood's case, “more of a good thing” has certainly not been too much, as AAFES has gone from strength to strength in that time. Thurgood has built AAFES a fresh foundation in accountability, and an ethos of “making a difference” for the patron. It's a valuable platform for AAFES's leadership to continue the good work, and we don't doubt Thurgood will “make a difference” in his next responsibilities, with both the Army Reserve and *cough, cough* Sam's Club in Bentonville, Ark. We're sure the marketplace joins us in wishing him well.

Meanwhile, from out of the blue, Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Philip E. Sakowitz Jr. has also announced his retirement. This development from the commissary agency's sure-footed director truly came out of left field. It seems as if it were only yesterday his position was elevated to the equivalent of a three-star flag officer, and he took the baton of leadership boldly in hand. His run is not yet over, and the final chapter of his legacy still remains to be written — but everybody knows that the commissary is worth the trip!

Lt. Col. Michael Tharrington, USA (Ret.), announced his retirement in February, and active-duty Marines, Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) and Marine Corps Exchanges (MCX) employees and members of industry came together in April to celebrate the QoL career of an extraordinarily devoted friend of Marines and their families, and QoL benefits as a whole.

His military experience began in 1968, as it did for many of his generation, as an Army private; he saw service in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader, and later, he was a Special Forces A-Team leader and company commander at Fort Bragg, N.C., and a battalion executive officer.

The next phase of his career saw him enter Army Club Management and MWR. After retiring from the Army Community and Family Support Center (CFSC) and active duty, he re-joined QoL as a civilian Marine in the role of MWR director at Henderson Hall, Va.

Over the last two decades, his steady hand, strategic thinking, and compassionate demeanor have been the inspiration and guidance behind much of the success story we see today in MCCS, MCX and the USMC Personal and Family Readiness Division (PFRD).

Marines can feel confident that Tharrington has imbued the organization he leaves with a strong sense of the importance of “doing the right things” for the Corps and its extended family. Staying on behind him is a robust resale leadership cadre who will do their utmost to accomplish those objectives. We hope his expertise somehow continues to be drawn upon, even in retirement. Semper Fi.