Fort Belvoir mourns loss of extraordinary leader

Jo Annette (McNeal) Blanks, deputy to the installation commander, passed away Tuesday morning following a lengthy illness.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Woodlawn Chapel on North Post.

"Even though she didn't wear a uniform, she was a Soldier," said Installation Commander Col. Jerry Blixt. "Ms. Blanks' leadership at Fort Belvoir culminated an outstanding career of service to Soldiers, families and our nation."

Blanks was born and raised in Georgia, and started working for the Army at Fort Benning. Before coming to Fort Belvoir she worked at the Installation Management Agency headquarters, in Crystal City.

Blanks had a broad range of experience, and has worked in the areas of logistics, program management, morale, welfare and recreation, family services, protocol, housing and facility management, contracting, and in the office of the inspector general.

She was recognized as Public Citizen of the Year in Alabama for her work during Desert Storm/Desert Shield. In 2004 while attending the U.S. Air War College, she received the Military Officer Association of America's Leadership Award for her paper, "From Selfless Service to Selfish Service: Military Ethics."

In 2005 Blanks was selected as deputy to the Fort Belvoir commander, where she continued to serve until the time of her death.

"JoAnn was an accomplished senior leader who excelled at many functions of base operations and installation management," said Don Carr, director of public affairs. "You have to be when you're the deputy to the post commander. She supervised every function it takes to run Fort Belvoir, which is like running any city."

She always set high standards for everyone on her staff, Carr said, but held herself to those same standards.

"She was a good judge of personnel and personality," Carr said. "She was an incredible leader who motivated others to perform well, an absolute professional in the military sense of that word. She would always go above and beyond the expected standard."

Donna Edwards, garrison command group administrative officer, said, "She was a wonderful boss and a wonderful person. She was extremely dedicated to her job and cared deeply about Fort Belvoir employees. She truly made a difference."

Blanks is remembered by those closest to her as someone who valued her job as deputy not because of any power inherent in such a position, but because of the influence it gave her to be able to keep Soldiers and their families on everyone else's minds. That was especially so where the allocation of resources is concerned.

"Some people might call what a deputy does to be, 'bean counting,' and, that's okay," Carrl said. "JoAnn knew every penny spent on something not needed was a penny wasted on something a Soldier or family would need."

"I have come to know and respect Ms. Blanks, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve with such a fine leader," said Installation Command Sgt. Maj. Allison Smith. "She was a true professional, committed to serving, supporting, and defending our Soldiers. I will miss her."

JoAnn is survived by her husband of 40 years, retired Col. Herbert E. Blanks, her daughter, Julie; her sister, Jean Mahaffey, and brother, Ray McNeal.

"JoAnn's clear desire, for herself and for all of us, was to live," Carr said. "She once said she didn't want excessive grief and crying at her death, but rather a celebration of her life."

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make any contributions do so to Capital Hospice, 6565 Arlington Blvd., Suite 500, Falls Church, Va., 22042703-538-2065 or 866-545-6964.