A retirement ceremony for the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) Chief of Staff, Col. Jeanne Smith-Hooper, was held April 26 at the Detroit Arsenal. A number of distinguished guests were on hand, including members of the TACOM LCMC leadership team, both past and present, several members of Hooper's family, her best friend from College, and her ROTC instructor, Russ Jackson, who commissioned her as a Second Lieutenant following her graduation from Virginia Tech.
TACOM LCMC Commander Maj. Gen. Kurt Stein congratulated Hooper on her retirement and praised her for her dedication during her 26 years of service, describing her as "a faithful soldier, a dedicated friend, and a great American hero." "You have reached the end of an extremely successful 26 years of dedicated military service to our nation and you have done a tremendous job every step of the way," he said. "Thank you for who you are and what you have done, both seen and unseen, to keep our country free over the last 26 years."
Following his remarks, Stein presented Hooper with a number of awards, including the Legion of Merit, and a certificate of appreciation signed by President Barack Obama.
In her closing remarks, Hooper expressed her appreciation to those who had helped in planning the ceremony, her family, mentors, and friends who were in attendance, and the nation as a whole for allowing her to serve. "I have to admit that I stand here today as a proud soldier and grateful to a country that has allowed me to serve for 26 years," she said, as she reflected back on her Army career. Finally, she invited the audience to join her at a reception that several members of the G1 staff had prepared for the occasion.
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