House Speaker John Boehner’s office announced on Thursday that House Sergeant at Arms Bill Livingood is retiring. The House Sergeant at Arms is responsible for security, among other ceremonial duties, like introducing the president before the State of the Union address.
Here is Boehner’s full statement:
“Bill Livingood has served the House during the most challenging times faced by anyone who has ever held this demanding position,” said House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH). Livingood’s tenure as Sergeant at Arms has included the 1998 shootings of two U.S. Capitol Police officers, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the deadly anthrax release on Capitol Hill, and the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords earlier this year.
“Thanks to Bill’s vision and leadership, we now have enhanced security throughout the Capitol complex, a larger and more professional U.S. Capitol Police force, greatly improved planning and training for emergency response and disaster recovery, and a host of other advances that are visible to few but valuable to all,” said Boehner. “Bill’s hard earned and well deserved retirement will be a real loss for the House, but we are grateful that he has assembled an outstanding team of professionals who share his dedication to round-the-clock protection of Members, staff and visitors here in the people’s House.”
