Angels’ leader to deploy to Iraq

The city administrator for Angels Camp will soon take on civil affairs duties in an Iraqi province.

Tim Shearer, a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves with 26 years of military experience, announced Thursday during an Angels-Murphys Rotary Club luncheon at Ironstone Vineyards that he will be mobilized Jan. 22 for active-duty service at Fort Dix, N.J., and deployed to Iraq for one year beginning March.
  

He will attend pre-deployment training in Fort Bragg, N.C., for nine weeks beginning later this month, but be available to the city by phone and e-mail during that time.

Shearer recently completed a master’s degree in strategic studies through a distance learning program of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Penn., preparing to help failing nations “with stability and governance ... to be able to enforce laws and regulations ... (and) function as a player that is not going to be a danger to the rest of the world,” he said.

He has served as the Angels Camp city administrator since 1996 and, since September 2001, held “various command positions of (reserve) units that do not deploy,” training troops who would serve in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas.

The City Council will determine how interim city administration services will be provided in his absence, Shearer said, adding he will remain in his civilian duties until the mobilization.

“We have a really good staff able to manage day-to-day affairs” in the city of about 3,500, he said. “We’ll be able to manage through.”

Mayor Jack Lynch said one of several options at the council’s disposal will be to bring a retired public administrator living in the area on staff as an interim during Shearer’s military leave, such as Avery Middle School has done with principal Tim Hicks or Calaveras County did with Brent Harrington as community development director.

A closed session council meeting to discuss the matter has been scheduled for Tuesday.

It is in part because of Shearer’s civilian experience, combined with a military background, that he has been assigned to assist with the transition from military to civil control as the leader of one of 14 civil liaison “provincial reconstruction teams” in the country, he said.

Shearer will work closely with a high-ranking State Department official in whatever province he is assigned to work in, he said.

Lynch added that “the kind of job he is going to have (in Iraq) is absolutely fascinating.”

Given Shearer’s background, “it’s a very, very perfect kind of a matchup of a military person going into a civil administration.”

Leaving will have its difficulties, Shearer admits.

“It is a huge sacrifice for many people, most of all my family,” said Shearer, whose wife, Paula, was present for the official announcement. “I know there will be challenges in the community.”

Nevertheless, the upcoming deployment is one the duty-bound officer said he is glad to serve.

“I am honored that I will be able to do my duty and serve my country in this capacity,” Shearer said.