IMCOM commander takes tour of Picatinny Arsenal

By Mark Sanchez, Picatinny Arsenal Public AffairsJune 22, 2010

IMCOM commander tours Picatinny Arsenal
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IMCOM commander tours Picatinny Arsenal
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, commanding general, Installation Managment Command, took a whirlwind tour of Picatinny Arsenal June 11 with his wife Sarah. Above, he receives a technical briefing while accompanied to his left my Brig. Gen. Jonathan Maddux, Pica... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
IMCOM commander tours Picatinny Arsenal
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PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. -- On a whirlwind visit June 11, Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, commanding general, U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) and his wife Sarah arrived at Picatinny Arsenal to receive briefings on the various activities at the installation.

At one point during the tour, the three-star general remarked, "(In) The U.S. Army, we're making history . . . because you guys are working here."

The tour began with Lynch's arrival by helicopter at noon. He was given a brief tour by Brig. Gen. Jonathan Maddux, Picatinny commanding general.

After a lunch meeting, Lynch met with Garrison Directors at the Cannon Gate Catering & Conference Center.

Lynch made several other stops before arriving in the Armament Software Engineering Center. Lynch was briefed upon the newest technological advancements and machinery created at Picatinny.

Col. Douglass Tamilio, Project Manager of Soldier Weapons, unveiled several new weaponry advancements. Among others, he showed the M4 Carbine 12 gauge. Light and reliable, the gun is ideal for breaching doors.

Seeking informal feedback about family issues, Lynch asked Col. Tamilio about his family life; in particular, about his wife's biggest complaint about her husband's profession.

"I'm never home," he responded, alluding to the heavy workload and long work days. Lynch reached out his hand and awarded Tamilio a small medal, which he also awarded to all personnel who briefed him.

During her visit, Mrs. Lynch attended a community reception in which she interacted with community spouses, beneficiaries of Picatinny services, Rockaway Township municipal and school officials, as well as members of the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and veterans organizations.

After the Community Center, she met with Gold Star Families before a tour of numerous Picatinny organizations.

Later that evening, the general and his wife were guests at the All Saints and Armed Forces Ball at the installation. His varied remarks were both humorous and serious.

He urged attendees to keep the sacrifices of military families in their minds. Aca,!A"Whenever you see a military spouse and military children, tell them thanks,Aca,!A? he said.

The general told attendees that both his parents worked in a paper mill, so they couldnAca,!a,,ct afford to send him to college. He accepted an appointment to West Point because it was free.

During the course of his talk, Lynch also mentioned the time when he was in Iraq and needed extensive firepower. He was able to get what he needed, the general added, thanks to the efforts of various organizations at Picatinny Arsenal.

Aca,!A"The folks at Picatinny are making history,Aca,!A? he said. Aca,!A"You can make history or you can

read history.Aca,!A?