MCIEAST Bids Farewell to Longtime MCCS Leader Sarah Wiltgen
19 Dec 2025 | Nat Fahy
Marine Corps Installations East
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. --
Marine Corps Installations East (MCIEAST) recognized the distinguished career of Sarah Wiltgen, assistant chief of staff for Marine Corps Community Services, MCIEAST, during a retirement ceremony held Friday afternoon, Dec. 12, at the MCCS headquarters on Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Wiltgen retired after more than a decade serving as the senior civilian leader for MCCS across Marine Corps Installations East, a role she assumed in 2014. The ceremony, presided over by Brig. Gen. Ralph J. Rizzo, Jr., commanding general, MCIEAST–MCB Camp Lejeune, was attended by dozens of MCCS employees, primary staff members, and members of the installation leadership team.
“Sarah gave her whole heart and soul to MCCS,” said Rizzo. “Whether it was solving problems, leading through crisis, or taking care of her team, she went about her work with a happy heart and a clear focus on Marines, Sailors, and their families.”
During the ceremony, Wiltgen received the Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award in recognition of exceptional service as the assistant chief of staff for MCCS from December 2014 through December 2025.
Throughout her tenure, Wiltgen oversaw a workforce of more than 2,000 employees delivering programs and services to tens of thousands of Marines, Sailors, family members, retirees, and civilian employees. She was known as a tireless advocate for MCIEAST installations at higher headquarters, frequently serving as the voice of the region in enterprise-level discussions and ensuring field realities were reflected in policy, programming, and governance decisions.
Rizzo highlighted Wiltgen’s leadership during times of crisis, including Hurricane Florence and the COVID-19 pandemic, noting her ability to find opportunity amid challenge. Wiltgen was instrumental in the development and execution of the Warrior Athlete Readiness and Resilience program at MCB Camp Lejeune, now recognized across the Marine Corps for its contribution to the Commandant’s Marine Corps Total Fitness strategy. “She found opportunities borne of crisis,” he said. “The WARR Center — the first of its kind in the Marine Corps — came from her vision to turn an old gym into something that directly supported Marine readiness.”
Wiltgen was also credited with starting several pilot programs to include employee wellness fairs, and wrap-around care for military children at Department of Defense Education Activity schools. She also pioneered active shooter preparedness training for child development center staff, empowering employees with practical countermeasures to protect children and themselves until first responders arrive.
Equally important was Wiltgen’s commitment to people. She was known as an accessible and loyal leader who personally welcomed new employees during orientations, met with supervisors one-on-one, conducted annual leadership seminars, and communicated regularly with the workforce through newsletters and video messages.
“She lived in the land of patron issues and RFIs (requests for information),” said one colleague. “She always tried to get to ‘yes’ — and when she couldn’t, she worked just as hard to find a responsible alternative.”
In her remarks, Wiltgen deflected praise and emphasized the collective effort behind MCCS successes.
“A lot of the progress the commanding general referenced really is due to the people in this room and the people still working right now,” Wiltgen said. “I have been blessed, because we really do have the best people. They would come to me and say, ‘Sarah, I have a problem — and here’s what I recommend you do.’ What an easy position to be in.”
She also credited her staff with assuming the role of early adopters on some of MCCS’s landmark initiatives that have since been emulated across the Corps. “We do the pilot [programs] because we want to influence the process,” she said. “It’s so important that we do these things right when it comes to taking care of Marines, Sailors, and their families.”
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Wiltgen is known among colleagues as an avid cyclist and reader, a wine enthusiast with a refined palate, and a leader who modeled balance and wellness. As she enters retirement, she looks forward to spending more time with her family, reading, riding, and enjoying a well-earned glass of wine.
“Sarah’s legacy is visible in the programs we run, the people she developed, and the culture she built,” Rizzo said. “MCIEAST — and the Marines and families we serve — are better because of her.”