ECC welcomes new command sergeant major

By Lt. Col. David S. HyltonJune 23, 2015

ECC welcomes new command sergeant major
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Brig. Gen. Michel Hoskin passes the U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command flag to incoming Command Sgt. Major Bernard P. Smalls Sr. during the change of responsibility ceremony here, June 22, 2015. ECC is a subordinat... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
ECC welcomes new command sergeant major
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Brig. Gen. Michel Hoskin accepts the U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command flag from outgoing Command Sgt. Major Angel C. Clark during the change of responsibility ceremony here, June 22, 2015. ECC is a subordinate com... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
ECC welcomes new command sergeant major
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Brig. Gen Michel Hoskin, right, officiated at the U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command change of responsibility ceremony here, June 22, 2015. Command Sgt. Major Angel C. Clark, center facing the camera, relinquished r... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command welcomed its new command sergeant major during a change of responsibility ceremony here June 22.

Command Sgt. Maj. Bernard P. Smalls, Sr. became ECC's third command sergeant major. He succeeds Command Sgt. Maj. Angel Clark, who has held the position since January 2012. The ceremony was hosted by Brig. Gen. Michael Hoskin, ECC commanding general.

During the ceremony, Smalls thanked Hoskin for his trust and accepted the responsibility for the Soldiers of ECC. He also thanked his family for its support.

Smalls next thanked Clark for her service: "I know your shoes could never be filled. However, I've personally charged myself to build upon the excellence you have built in ECC and the surrounding community."

Hoskin thanked Clark for her support and many successes and welcomed Smalls to his new assignment.

Hoskin also recognized Clark and her impact on the Soldiers and Civilians of ECC: "Every Soldier in the Command knows Command Sergeant Major Clark and her motto 'Teach, coach, mentor and inspire.' Reaching out to Soldiers is her passion and I've witnessed the drive and intent of her words to touch those with whom she interacts. But what's even more amazing is how much our Soldiers and civilians mean to Command Sergeant Major Clark.

"Within her is the most genuine and caring leader you will ever meet," he continued, "and our formation knows that to be true. Command Sergeant Major Clark, I cannot express my gratitude to you for everything you've accomplished in support of this command and the Soldiers and civilians you lead every day."

Clark addressed her desire to grow the Soldiers she was responsible for. "I always hoped that the things that I shared with you would get through to you," she said. "That you would understand that I only wanted to leave you with something that someday in the future you may use again; whether it was in garrison or in a deployed environment. My goal was always to teach, mentor, coach and inspire you to achieve the things that I know that you were capable of."

Smalls most recently served as command sergeant major of the 595th Transportation Brigade, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. He has held four previous command sergeant major positions along with various staff and leadership assignments. He has served combat tours in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, and Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Clark became the ECC command sergeant major after serving as the Redstone Arsenal garrison command sergeant major. She plans to retire in September.

ECC is a subordinate command of the U.S. Army Contracting Command. ECC's mission is to plan and execute effective and agile contracting support for U.S. Army service component commanders in support of Army and joint operations worldwide. ECC also provides contracting support for overseas installation operations.