FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (Nov. 23, 2011) -- Two Army leaders assumed responsibilities of the Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth in a joint ceremony Nov. 22.
Lt. Gen. David G. Perkins is now CAC and Fort Leavenworth commander. Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Greca is CAC's highest noncommissioned officer, the CAC command sergeant major. They replace Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen and Command Sgt. Maj. Philip F. Johndrow.
Gen. Robert Cone, commanding general of Training and Doctrine Command, said he looked forward to working with CAC's new command team.
"I could not be more pleased with the two accomplished leaders who have taken the helm of the Combined Arms Center today," he said. "Lt. Gen. Dave Perkins and Command Sgt. Maj. Greca are both joining us after highly successful position-level leadership tours in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Greca began serving the Army in 1986 as an infantryman, according to his biography. He has deployed five times, including in support of Operation Enduring Freedom I and II and during Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of a Joint Special Operation Task Force. He's also deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2007-09 to eastern Baghdad and to Operation Enduring Freedom in Regional Command-South, Kandahar.
Greca is a Purple Heart recipient and member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. He and his wife Darena have three children, Justen, Kyle and Ryan.
Greca thanked Cone and Perkins for giving him the opportunity to make a difference for Soldiers.
"I've often said that each and every day we as leaders need to impact our story … before we lay our heads on the pillow -- who have we impacted, who have we inspired, to whom have we made a difference?"
Greca said he's convinced that Fort Leavenworth and CAC are the answer to many of the Army's problems, promoting training and leadership skills.
Greca also said this is one of the few chances he's had to spend Christmas with his family in recent years.
"Just to get the opportunity to (be together) this holiday season, to enjoy it with my family, my wife and my kids, means absolutely everything," he said.
Perkins has served the Army for 31 years, commissioned as an armor officer out of the U.S. Military Academy in 1980, according to his biography. Perkins' past assignments include command of the 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor, in the 1st Infantry Division from 1996 to 1998, during which the battalion deployed to Macedonia, and Perkins commanded Task Force Able Sentry. Perkins also commanded the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, during its initial attack of Iraq in 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The attack included an armored assault on Baghdad on April 7, 2003. Perkins was recently the chief of Strategic Effects and spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq, before becoming the commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, Colo.
Perkins is a graduate of what is now the Intermediate Level Education program at the Command and General Staff College and the Naval War College. He is married to Ginger and their two children, Cassandra and Chad, both serve the Army. Cassandra is an Army aviator captain and leads a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter platoon in Afghanistan. Chad is a cadet at USMA, class of 2013.
Perkins told a story about meeting with young enlisted Soldiers during his last command in Iraq. They began asking about Perkins' new job at Fort Leavenworth. When they learned about the Combined Arms Center's role in doctrine and training, they left Perkins with a long to-do list of ways to improve the Army.
"They had to think about this," Perkins said of the enlisted Soldiers. "They were invested in our institution, they were invested in the Army, they are invested in our nation and they were very much concerned about the future -- not that it wasn't going to go well -- but they wanted to make sure somebody's working on this."
Perkins reminded Fort Leavenworth community members that what they do for the Army is important.
"What's important to remember is there are sergeants and specialists in Afghanistan, Iraq and throughout the Army that are expecting us to get this done for their benefit for the Army," he said.
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