FORT KNOX, Kentucky -- Brig. Gen. James T. Iacocca was invested as the 60th The Adjutant General of the U.S. Army and Executive Director, Military Postal Service Agency, in a ceremony March 20 on the grounds of the Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Maude Complex, headquarters of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command.
Iacocca succeeds Brig. Gen. David K. "Mac" MacEwen, who is retiring after more than 33 years of service to the nation.
Iacocca comes to HRC with decades of experience in the Adjutant General Corps and Army G-1 field. He most recently served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, also located at Fort Knox. Other previous assignments include senior positions with the Joint Staff, as commander of the 3rd Recruiting Brigade, chief of the Department of the Army Secretariat for Promotions and Selections, commander of the 82nd Paratrooper Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion and Adjutant General/G-1 of the 82nd Airborne Division.
"Today's ceremony is unique in that we transition the mantle of leadership of not one, but two vitally important national and strategic level organizations," said HRC Commander, Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mustion, who hosted Iacocca's investiture and MacEwen's retreat ceremonies.
"First, The Adjutant General of our Army, which serves the total U.S. Army, all three components, and the Military Postal Service Agency, which supports all the members of the Department of Defense. These two organizations touch every service member in our nation's armed forces. They have an incredible breadth of responsibility and an incredible depth. The complexity of these combined missions require and demand a leader of incredible strength and character," he said.
Mustion praised MacEwen for superlative leadership of such a multi-component, multi-service organization that operates around the world, 24 hours a day.
"Mac's tenure has been absolutely remarkable. His strategic vision, leadership, his intellect, his acumen, his energy, his passion and effectiveness have been absolutely extraordinary," he said.
Mustion thanked MacEwen and his family for their service to the Army and the nation and welcomed Iacocca and his family to their new mission at Fort Knox.
"We are honored to welcome back to the Human Resources Command Brig. Gen. Jim Iacocca and his bride Sandy and the Iacocca team. Jim is absolutely the right leader for the Adjutant General Directorate and the Military Postal Service Agency. He has the right experience, the depth, the skills to continue the organization on the path to an even higher level," he said.
MacEwen also praised his successor in his remarks at the ceremony.
"I can think of no one better to be the 60th TAG and director of the MPSA than my friend Jim Iacocca. The team is all about taking care of people, our Army's most precious resource. When you go home tonight, when you lay your head on your pillow, think about the Soldiers in harm's way and their families that are waiting for their safe return," he said.
Iacocca greeted the HRC family by thanking all who had traveled to attend his investiture.
"To say that I am excited to be the 60th The Adjutant General of the Army and Executive Director, Military Postal Service Agency, is an understatement," Iacocca said. "It is great to be back in the AG community. I am incredibly honored and privileged to have this opportunity to serve our great Army.
"There will be challenges ahead, but with those challenges come great opportunities, and this team will continue to seize these opportunities to improve and serve our Army," he said.
MacEwen pointed out that seven of the 14 living The Adjutants General of the Army were present for Iacocca's investiture, a rare occurrence by any historical reckoning.
"This is the first time I can recall seeing seven of us together in one place at one time," said Mustion, who hosted a retirement retreat ceremony for MacEwen that afternoon at the Maude Complex.
MacEwen retires after a distinguished career that included assignments as the U.S. Army Human Resources Command chief of staff, 1st Personnel Command, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army commander, chief of the Colonels Management Office, Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army, executive officer of the Office of the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, and commanding general of the U.S. Army Solider Support Institute.
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