AUGUSTA, Maine — Maj. Gen. John W. “Bill” Libby, head of the Maine National Guard since 2003 and commissioner of the state Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, is stepping down.
Libby, 67, informed Gov. Paul LePage this week that he would retire effective March 16. No reason was given for Libby’s resignation, but his announcement comes less than a week after he postponed an address to a joint session of the Legislature so he could deal with an undisclosed family emergency.
LePage said he has accepted Libby’s resignation with regret and he praised the general for staying on when LePage took office last year.
“It is not something I wanted to do because the state of Maine is better for his service. He put Maine before himself when I asked him to stay on at the end of the last administration,” the governor said in a statement. “For over eight years, Gen. Libby has led the men and women of the Maine Army and Air National Guard, and he has done so with distinction. Our soldiers and airmen respect him, our veterans respect him, and our state was prepared for any emergency because of his leadership.”
Libby is a native of Lewiston and has undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Maine. He served in Vietnam in the late 1960s and joined the Maine Army National Guard in 1976. Libby has since held a variety of positions with the guard, including as deputy adjutant general from 1995 to 2002.
During a military career that spanned four decades, Libby has earned many service medals, including the Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. He has overseen the mobilization of more than 4,000 Mainers in support of the global war on terror since 2003.
“It has been my greatest privilege and honor to lead the Maine National Guard. Over the past decade, the Middle East and Afghanistan continues to test our Maine men and women in uniform and their families,” Libby said in a statement. “As I tell our WWII veterans, they are the greatest generation, but this nation is currently being served by another great generation who are 100-percent volunteer for the first time in our modern history [and] have fought with distinction in two simultaneous wars.”
LePage said his administration would announce an acting Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management commissioner in the coming weeks. A thorough search for Libby’s replacement will take place over the next few months and the governor said he hopes to have a new cabinet nomination by the summer.
That nominee would be subjected to review by the Veterans and Legal Affairs committee and would need to be confirmed by the Senate.
LePage also said Libby has offered to serve in other capacities in the future and the governor said he would certainly call on him when needed.
Good man,He will be missed greatly.
He has served our country very well and got the job done.
He has more than earned his retirement.
Job Well Done
He made it very clear that for every dollar LePage was cutting from his budget it would cost the national guard three dollars because of the two for one match in federal monies. Now he is gone. Coincidence?
Sounds like all three were MY dollars.
I know for a fact that yes, it is a coincidence.
This isn’t really a comment about this fellow, but I’m just curious about this:
Is he paid as a “full time regular Army” general? If so, he now makes at least $167508 per year in taxable base pay and $23436 in non-taxable allowances (BAH + BAS).
Does the State pay his salary even though it is dictated by the federal DoD pay table?
I don’t care, and I don’t think it is any of our business. This man has earned whatever he gets in benefits.
I think you misunderstood my question. I’m just asking if the state pays his salary or if the feds do. I’m not asking if you think it’s a fair salary or not.
You are absolutely right, I misunderstood your question. Sorry.
Get over yourself. He’s asking a question about who pays it.
I know. I apologized.
Thank you. Not many people would do that.
Maybe if you actually paid some taxes instead of lounging in the welfare hammock….
Maybe if you did not presume that everyone is on welfare, you would be a decent person. I have never been on welfare in my entire life. You really should not react unless you know the facts.
State employee then, pretty much the same thing.
Regardless of how he receives his pay, if he were employed by a large corporation with comparable responsibilties his annual salary might very well begin with at least a 4.
When I was in the MNG my checks where from the Federal DOD.
Why shouldnt the statge pay his salary? He is on full time duty as are many of our guard members drawing full DOD slaries while on full time active duty.
According to MaineOpenGov.org John W. Libby Total Compensation for 2010 was $105,352.00 (Base Pay $104,301.00 & Benefits of $1,051.00).
Maine National Guard members that hold full-time employment are state employees that earn state wage and benefits unless the are “federalized” (i.e. on active duty or fulfilling National Guard commitments).
Thank you, General Libby, for your service and dedication to the citizens of the State of Maine. Your leadership will be missed.
Best to you and your family, General Libby. Blessings today and always.
A good and capable public servant. I hope everything is well with his him and his family.
General Libby has done an outstanding job for the soldiers, airmen and citizens of Maine for many years. He has shown a tremendous amount of skill and compassion to all. Thank you General Libby for your hard work and dedication to us all. Best wishes in your retirement.
>>>> The governor says Libby put Maine before himself when he was asked to stay on when LePage took office last year.<<<<<<< Wow Lepage is being unusually honest about what it is like working with him.
I thought I saw this article 6 weeks ago, What gives?
Glad to see Gi Joe spend the remaining years he has reflecting on the meaning of life
how quick it all went by and what lies in store for him in his next life.
see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1542356/Professor-Ian-Stevenson.html
Professor Ian Stevenson
12 Feb 2007
Professor Ian Stevenson, who died on February 8 aged 88,
was the world’s foremost scientific authority on the study of
reincarnation; the founder and director of the Division of Personality
Studies at the University of Virginia, Stevenson spent more than 40
years traveling the world, accumulating more than 3,000 cases of
children who appeared to have memories of previous lives.
My regret is never having met the man so I could give him a copy of the documentary I helped make called 911 PRESS FOR TRUTH which details the evidence for the US Government creating 911.He can watch it on youtube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgUFkVG_78g
But the General already knows this and probably is burdened enough with the thought he will have to own the karma he created by assisting in the invasion of Iraq for Exxon Mobil.
I also hoped I could have given him a copy of the new documentary I received last month called
A NOBLE LIE detailing the evidence for the FBI creating the Oklahoma City bombing
but the General is to busy with trying to figure out which side he will support when the insurrection kicks in this summer. But we already know that answer, eh?
and this is about what?
it’s all here you do know what to do,eh?
http://actorsandartistsfor911truth.com/Videos.htm
You are a complete and utter loony.
I thought all the squirrels were in Oak trees!
He did maine well. His dedication will not go unnoticed by teh Veterans adn service members of Maine and other States where General Libby has made his mark. Thanks you sir for your service.
Gov Libby ????? hhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Thank you Sir, for all your years of service to Maine, and the Country. I and I’m sure all of Maine wishes you the very best, and Thank you for everything you have done for us.
Thank you for your service sir!
Bill Libby has been an exemplary citizen serving his country and his state. I know him personally and he has earned all his accolades and the right to move on. I hope all is well with his family!
I have served on MG Libby’s staff for several years and nearly 20 years of active duty. I have never met a better, more caring or considered leader. Please do not denigrate his service by suggesting that he is being forced out or there is some conspiracy against him. MG Libby has done enough. He has served our state and nation faithfully and dedicated his adult life to us all.
Because of MG Libby, the Army and Air National Guard will continue to serve us all with distinction, determination and honor. He personally developed the leaders that will take us forward in the years to come. I know that I am a far better officer for having had the opportunity to watch him in action and listen to his counsel.
I know that I could never, ever be the leader that he is. But I know that every day that I lace up my boots and step off, that I will strive to come as close as I can.
Whatever your politics, they should be set aside in this instance and we should merely say, “thank you” to this great Mainer who served us all.
He is the best ever in all respects. Will never be replaced