HEIDELBERG, Germany " Warm winds filled the air as members of the military community filed onto Campbell Barracks parade field in Heidelberg, Germany to witness the official change of command ceremony for the 60th Engineer Geospatial Planning Cell, here July 15.
Lt. Col. Craig Guth relinquished his command of the 60th GPC to Lt. Col. John Byrn in front of Soldiers and Families attending the event.
Guth originally assumed command of the 60th GPC in September 2009, then formerly known as the 60th Engineer Detachment, shortly after his return from deployment where he managed construction and reconstruction with the 18th Engineer Brigade.
Guth referred to the 60th GPC as a blended unit of 49 personnel comprised of 34 Soldiers, six DA Civilians, one Local National, seven contract employees and one National Geospatial Analysis data steward.
During his remarks, Guth thanked his Family, the unit’s Soldiers and Civilians for their important role in making the 60th GPC truly successful.
“This is a great group of people here that I have had an opportunity to work with and we have been able to accomplish an awful lot of things. It’s a bitter sweet time,” said Guth.
Maj. Gen. Patricia E. McQuistion, the commanding general of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, was the guest speaker at the ceremony and talked about the exceptional role the 60th GPC provides to today’s warfighter.
“This unique blend of skills has been significant to this unit’s success,” said McQuistion. “Today not only marks the change of great command teams but also the realignment of the 60th GPC to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion of USAREUR. This transfer is an acknowledgement of its vital importance to USAREUR operations.”
As of July 16th, the 60th GPC realigned from the 21 TSC to support USAREUR HQs as the unit moves its operation of theater assets for geospatial data production, analysis, management and dissemination to Wiesbaden, Germany.
As the new commander of the 60th GPC, Byrn brings more than 20 years of experience. His previous assignment was in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where he served as a tactics instructor in the Department of Army Tactics, staff group advisor, engineer subject matter expert, initiatives group plans officer, and Executive Officer for the Deputy Commandant at the Command and General Staff College.
Byrn began his command of the 60th GPC by thanking his family for their continued support and is looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
“I feel very lucky to be here. These are wonderful Soldiers, Civilians, Contractors and Local Nationals,” said Byrn.
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