JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (Sept. 24, 2015) -- Members of the 412th Contracting Support Brigade welcomed their new commander during a ceremony Sept. 23 at the Army North Quadrangle here.
Col. Dennis McGowan assumed command from Col. Tim Strange in a change-of-command ceremony officiated by Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Gabbert, the commanding general for the Mission and Installation Contracting Command.
"It is clear the 412th needs a leader who is strong, adaptable, experienced, knowledgeable and compassionate. These characteristics are what you will find in Colonel Dennis McGowan." Gabbert said, noting his most recent command of the 418th CSB during a deployment to Afghanistan. "It is your task to lead this ready, transparent and accountable organization that is built on trust and respect."
McGowan led Soldiers from the 418th CSB headquarters at Fort Hood, Texas, and lower echelons in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, returning home Sept. 1. In April, he assumed command of the mission from the U.S. Central Command Joint Theater Support Contracting Command headquarters to serve as the senior DOD contracting official deployed in the Afghanistan area of responsibility. He and brigade members made up the command and control element in the standup of Expeditionary Contracting Command-Afghanistan.
Prior to deploying with the brigade, he served as the MICC chief of staff from August 2014 to January 2015.
"I thank God for the many opportunities I've been blessed with in my Army career," McGowan said. "It humbles me to have this opportunity to lead the civilians and Soldiers of the 412th. I look forward to doing so with distinction, honor and great respect."
The MICC commanding general also recognized the outgoing brigade commander for achieving extraordinary outcomes under his leadership that included expanding to six subordinate contracting offices and directing the training of more than 1,900 personnel in joint operational contracting support exercises. Strange, who prepares to retire after serving as commander and principal assistant responsible for contracting for the 412th CSB since July 2012, said he shares his accomplishments with members of the brigade.
"None of those accomplishments were mine. They were all as a result of a great team of hard-working professionals that I was just a part of," Strange said.
The 412th CSB, a subordinate command to the MICC, provides contracting support to numerous supported activities. Those include the Army North, Army Reserve Command, Army Human Resources Command, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installation Management, Army Cadet Command and Army Recruiting Command.
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