FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Members of the installation community will soon bid farewell to Chuck Munson, deputy to the garrison commander for Fort Campbell, as he prepares to retire after 43 years of combined military and government service.
Munson, who has served in his current position at garrison for more than six years, started his journey in 1971 after being commissioned as a second lieutenant. His service with the Army spans a wide variety of assignments, culminating as U.S. Army, Europe's Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel and Installation Management for Installation Management Command.
In addition to commanding at the company and battalion level, he has served as a director for industrial operations, a military community executive officer, the garrison commander, Zweibrucken, Germany, and the garrison commander for the U.S. Army garrisons in Italy (commander, 22nd Area Support Group). As a civilian employee, he came to Fort Campbell after completing an assignment as the deputy to the Fort A. P. Hill garrison commander.
"This is my second time retiring," said Munson. "My first retirement [from the Army] was a difficult transition. For 30 years you have been part of an organization that responds to crisis and you do things in support of that and the responsibilities that come with some of it. So when you retire from the Army -- one day you were doing it, and the next day you are not -- it's like a big let-down. At least it was to me."
"This time I don't think it will be real difficult," said Munson.
Realizing his time at Fort Campbell was close to an end, Munson decided it was time to start a new chapter in his life.
"Everyone that gets assigned to this job has to sign a mobility agreement," said Munson. "[The Department of Army] shuffles people around -- go to a different place, have a different set of eyes -- and I could tell, it would soon be time for me to move, so I thought, before somebody tells me I have to move, I will just pick my [retirement] date."
Munson arrived at Fort Campbell in the fall of 2008 from Fort A.P. Hill, Va., replacing Theodore "Ted" J. Purdom as the deputy to the garrison commander, of one of the most prominent organizations on post.
Munson will be replaced by John Hunter who is currently assigned to IMCOM headquarters.
During his time as the deputy garrison commander, Munson has enjoyed working with Soldiers and their Families and worked closely with the military and the civilian communities in support of Fort Campbell Garrison Command and community outreach programs.
"In garrison, your business is not the business of the glitzy stuff. It's more so keeping the installation running," said Munson.
During his tenure as the deputy garrison commander, Munson is most proud of Fort Campbell 's achievements as a world class Army Community of Excellence.
"In the six years I have been here, Fort Campbell garrison has been a community of excellence for five of those six," said Munson. "I was sort of tickled pink. You don't get that type of recognition because of one person, you get it because of the team -- the garrison as a team. It was a lot of fun."
As for significant challenges during his time at Campbell, Munson considers the Army downsizing as his top challenge.
"From about 2010 on, we have been downsizing," said Munson. "And when it comes time and resources get tight, one of the first places the Army digs to find resources is in the installation, in terms of people and money -- that's just the nature of the business … but we always manage to provide some level of service -- we never stopped doing something -- it may not be done as quickly or as often but we still manage to do it. It was just another challenge -- how do we make it work?"
"A lot of what we do impacts people, but you have to be able to draw your motivation from something, and that something is the challenge -- you're going to make it work -- you're going to find a way to make it work," said Munson.
As he prepares to transition into retirement, Munson said has no immediate plans.
"I'm going back to the house and putter around there for a while until my wife Linda gets tired of me and throws me out the back yard," said Munson, laughing. "When she does that, then I'll think about [doing] something. Perhaps I may look at volunteering my time."
For now, Munson plans to relax and spend time with his Family.
"I will take the memories."
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