Brig. Gen. Farmen assumes leadership of Joint Munitions Command

By Mr. Tony Lopez (AMC)July 10, 2015

BG Farmen assumes leadership of Joint Munitions Command
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gen. Dennis L. Via, Commander, Army Materiel Command passes the unit colors to Brig. Gen. Stephen E. Farmen, to signify him as the leader of the Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command and Joint Munitions Command, during the chang... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Brig. Gen. Farmen assumes leadership of Joint Munitions Command
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – L to R, Brig. Gen. Kristin K. French, Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command and Joint Munitions Command outgoing commander; Gen. Dennis L. Via, Commanding General, Army Materiel Command; and Brig. Gen. Stephen E. Farmen, Joint M... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Brig. Gen. Farmen assumes leadership of Joint Munitions Command
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The official party reviews the troops during the Joint Munitions Command Change of Command Ceremony held at the Rock Island Arsenal Memorial Field, July 9. L to R, Col. David W. Banian, JMC Chief of Staff, Gen. Dennis L. Via, Commanding General, Army... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Brig. Gen. Farmen assumes leadership of Joint Munitions Command
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Army Sustainment Command color guard displays the flags during the Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command and Joint Munitions Command change of command ceremony held on the Rock Island Arsenal, July 9. In the background ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- The Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command and Joint Munitions Command held their change of command ceremony here, July 9, at Memorial Park.

Brig. Gen. Stephen E. Farmen succeeded Brig. Gen. Kristin K. French, who relinquished command of JM&L and JMC after two years as the senior leader. French retired from the U.S. Army immediately following the ceremony. She served more than 29 years to her country.

The Joint Munitions & Lethality Life Cycle Management Command is co-located at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, and the Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois. The JM&L LCMC aligns three organizations to execute the Army's munitions and lethality mission: the Program Executive Office for Ammunition; the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center and the Joint Munitions Command. Farmen becomes the commander for both organizations and will also serve as the Deputy Commanding General for the Army Sustainment Command.

The Army Sustainment Command provides logistics by synchronizing acquisition, logistics and technology support from the strategic through the operation to the tactical level. ASC serves as Army Materiel Command's single face to the field to provide Combat Service Support capability to Soldiers serving in Combat Commands in the continental United States as well as overseas.

Gen. Dennis L. Via, Commanding General, Army Materiel Command, served as the officiating officer and spoke of French's accomplishments during his remarks, while also welcoming Farmen to JMC.

"This is such a great day for a change of command. I'm truly honored to serve as the master of ceremonies," said Via.

"I could not be more proud of the entire JMC workforce, those at the headquarters that provide guidance and direction, and our subordinate formations as well." said French in her farewell remarks. "I am very proud of JMC's fourteen ammunition depots, arsenals, ammo plants and munitions centers. I truly have a lot of fond memories of my time here and am proud to have served alongside each and every one of you. I wish you all the best as you continue to provide ready, reliable and lethal munitions to the Department of Defense."

"Debbie and I are honored and humbled to be in your company. I pledge to make JMC and AMC proud," said Brig. Gen. Stephen E. Farmen, as he took command of JMC.

Farmen arrives in Rock Island after serving as the commanding general for the 19th Sustainment Command, Expeditionary, in the Republic of Korea. He graduated from the University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and was commissioned into the Transportation Corps. He holds a Master's Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

Joint Munitions Command produces small-, medium- and large-caliber ammunition items for the Department of Defense. JMC is the logistics integrator for life-cycle management of ammunition and provides a global presence of technical support to U.S. combat units wherever they are stationed or deployed. JMC's logistics operation is unique to the Department of Defense and its industrial base is an important asset in supporting the Warfighter. The primary mission of JMC is to manage the production, storage, issue, and demilitarization of conventional ammunition for all U.S. Military Services.

Related Links:

Joint Munitions Command webpage

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