Kibben Takes Command of Crane Army Ammunition Activity

By Mr. Thomas Peske (AMC)August 27, 2007

Col. Charles W. Kibben became the fourteenth commander of Crane Army Ammunition Activity here July 12, at a ceremony overlooking Naval Support Activity Crane's Lake Greenwood.

Kibben replaces Col. Todd R. Smith, who became the Chief of Staff at U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command (JMC), Rock Island, Ill.

A large crowd of Army, Navy and civilians watched as command colors passed from Smith to Brig. Gen. James E. Rogers, Commanding General of JMC, to Kibben. Rogers also spoke about the accomplishments of Smith while at Crane and the qualifications of Kibben to take the mantle of leadership of CAAA.

Rogers acknowledged the important role CAAA plays as it supports military personnel from all branches of service with its mission. He stressed CAAA will continue to perform at this level of importance under its new commander.

"Col. Kibben is a very distinguished officer. He has served in a variety of important assignments around the world and I believe Col. Charlie Kibben is exactly the right person we need at Crane today, now and for the future. Crane is fortunate to get someone of his caliber," Rogers said.

Kibben came here from the DoD Explosives Safety Board in Washington D.C., where he worked as the chief of staff and Army Military Representative. His previous assignments include a tour as the operations officer with the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., and a Professor of Military Science at Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont.

"I'm looking forward with carrying on the great tradition of this organization," Kibben said. "I will tell you that coming from Washington D.C., Crane does have a tremendous reputation of doing great things in supporting our warfighters. I would like Todd to know that we're going to keep what's going on right here and we're going to go to the future and make it even better."

Methodist University awarded Kibben a bachelor's degree in history in 1984. He received a master's degree in administration from Central Michigan University, a master's degree from the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College.

CAAA was established in Oct. 1977 and is a tenant of the Navy Region Midwest, Naval Support Activity Crane. The Army activity maintains ordnance professionals and infrastructure to receive, store, ship, produce, renovate and demilitarize conventional ammunition, missiles and related components.