NORTH BERGEN, NJ – (October 2, 2025) International Longshoremen’s Association President Harold J. Daggett announced the appointment of Brigadier General (Ret) Harrison “H.B.” Gilliam as the union’s Military Advisor and Consultant. The appointment is effective October 1, 2025.
“I am proud to welcome Brigadeer General H.B. Gilliam to the ILA to serve in the important role as the ILA’s Military Advisor and Consultant,” said ILA President Daggett. “Gen. Gilliam brings a wealth of experience, including a distinguished military career that will serve him well in this new role with the ILA.”
“It was an honor for me to serve the United States of America’s Armed Forces, and now I welcome the opportunity to serve the 85,000 members of the ILA,” said Gen. Gilliam.
The retired Brigadeer General brings a wealth of military experience to the ILA. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1991 following attendance at Officer Candidate School. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1993 and served in a variety of positions within the Special Forces community over the last 30 years.
In one of his current roles as Director of Operations and Outreach for the Special Forces Charitable Trust which connected him to senior Special Operation Leaders across the U.S. Army. His vast military background includes serving as Deputy Commanding General at the Special Warfare Center and School in Fort Liberty, North Carolina; Director of Joint Staff – West Virginia National Guard and Director of European Engagement Group, Special Operations Command in Europe.
The ILA handles Military Cargo at many its ports throughout the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast region, providing thousands of job opportunities for its rank-and-file members. ILA President Daggett recognizes the importance of this position and is confident that Gen. Gilliam is the right man for the position.
The ILA’s Military Consultant is responsible for completion of certain tasks relating to the handling of military cargo. Gen. Gilliam will educate military and commercial representatives on the benefits of using ILA-represented labor. He will monitor and participate in all pre-proposal conferences on new military contracts for stevedoring and related terminal services at strategies seaports located on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts and act as a liaison for the ILA in the bidding process for handling military cargo.
Gen. Gilliam holds a number of advanced degrees including a Masters of Science in Strategic Studies in 2011; a Masters of Science in Strategic Studies from the Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Masters of Science in Human Resources Management from the University of Charleston; and had received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and History from Morehead State University.
Gen. Gilliam resides in Fayetteville, North Carolina with his wife of 33 years, Andrea Fannin Gilliam. They have one daughter, Bailey.
