Sen. Ossoff met Major Bill Hayes at U.S. Camp Humphreys in South Korea in November 2021
Later this month, Major Hayes is retiring from the Marine Corps after 23 years of service
DOWNLOAD: Video B-roll from the retirement ceremony
Washington, D.C. — Earlier this summer, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff officiated the retirement ceremony of United States Marine Corps Major Billy “Mays” Hayes, a native of Augusta, Georgia.
After 23 years of service, Major Hayes is officially retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps at the end of August 2023. Sen. Ossoff first met Major Hayes in November 2021 at U.S. Camp Humphreys in South Korea, where Major Hayes was serving as the Marine Corps Forces-Korea Liaison Officer to the ROK Marine Corps (ROKMC).
Major Hayes has held several leadership positions both as an Officer and Enlisted Marine throughout his 23 years in service. He is an Aviation Intelligence Weapons and Tactics Instructor and certified as a INDOPACOM Theater Collections Manager. He most recently served as faculty in the National Intelligence University faculty after completing a Regional Affairs tour in the Republic of Korea (ROK).
“It was such an honor to preside over this ceremony. On behalf of the people of Georgia and the United States Senate, I extend to Major Hayes the deepest appreciation, gratitude, and respect for his extraordinary career service, and deep gratitude and respect to his family — to his wife Natalie, and to his children for the sacrifices they have made in the defense of our country,” Sen. Ossoff said.
“It has been my honor and privilege to have served our Nation for the past 23 years. Looking back, I’m grateful that the military expanded my worldview, created deep friendships, and helped me grow in ways I never thought possible,” Major Hayes said. “I look forward to beginning a new chapter of my life in the private sector by combining the business skills I’ve gained from the military with the MBA program I’m enrolled in at Georgetown University.”
Sen. Ossoff pins the Meritorious Service Medal on Major Hayes
Sen. Ossoff congratulates Major Hayes on his retirement
Sen. Ossoff with (left-to-right) Major Hayes; Natalie Burke; Charles Hayes; Isela Hayes
Major Hayes with (left-to-right) Sergeant Anthony Sierra, USMC; Master Sergeant Joshua Chaney, USMC; Gunnery Sergeant Ryann Etienne, USMC
Major Billy “Mays” Hayes, United States Marine Corps (USMC) joined the NIU faculty in June 2022 after completing a Regional Affairs tour in the Republic of Korea (ROK). While in the ROK, he first served as the lead planner for all Marine Corps bilateral military exercises before being selected as the Marine Corps Forces-Korea Liaison Officer to the ROK Marine Corps (ROKMC). In addition to being the only American serving at the ROKMC Headquarters, he was also an institutional ambassador from the USMC to the world’s second largest Marine Corps. He successfully performed his duties by relying on a deep understanding of the Korean culture, language, history, and economy against the backdrop of the ROKMC’s leadership system, bureaucratic processes, and organizational structure. Many of the bilateral initiatives he led hinged on “leading up” and creating executive-level buy-in from both the USMC and ROKMC. Additionally, he regularly finessed the art of leading across cultures, staffs, and ranks in order to advance U.S. interests in the ROK.
Mays served as the first operational Squadron Intelligence Officer within the F-35 program. He was a “Green Knight” at Marine Fighter Attack Squadron-121 in Iwakuni, Japan. There, he and his squadron directly supported the United States’ Flexible Response operations in 2017 and 2018 to deter the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from increasing nuclear provocations which threatened the U.S., and our regional allies. From an organizational perspective, he convinced senior General Officers to revamp the intelligence support models by adopting one that provided adequate personnel, training, and equipment commensurate with a fifth-generation aircraft’s capabilities. He also synchronized collections and led analytic efforts with the U.S. Intelligence Community to prepare for the squadron’s deployments around Asia.
Major Hayes led over 350 Marines while serving as the first Intelligence Fusion Officer & Director of what is now the III Marine Expeditionary Force Intelligence Center. Their analytic products supported a 27,000-strong organization performing military exercises and operations throughout the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM). He also served as the Director for Joint Task Force 505’s Joint Intelligence Support Element during the U.S. Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Relief Operation in Nepal.
Major Hayes has held a number of other leadership positions both as an Officer and Enlisted Marine throughout his 23 years in service. He is an Aviation Intelligence Weapons and Tactics Instructor and certified as a INDOPACOM Theater Collections Manager.
