Joint Munitions Command Welcomes New Leader

By Ms. Linda K Loebach (AMC)June 6, 2012

JMC Change of Command
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JMC Change of Command
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JMC Change of Command.
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ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill.--On a cool, sunny June 5th morning, the Joint Munitions Command at Rock Island Arsenal celebrated a change of command.

Lt. Gen. Dennis L. Via, deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command, JMC's higher headquarters, officiated as Brig. Gen. Kevin G. O'Connell replaced JMC's outgoing commander, Brig. Gen. Gustave F. Perna.

Via praised the Quad City community for its continued support of the Army and JMC.

"I don't think there's a better setting for this event," said Via.

And, Via had high praise for Perna during his 19-month tenure at JMC.

"The word 'achievement' is an understatement," said Via. "Perna's leadership, thinking and planning skills are exceptional. His concern for the safety of JMC's soldiers and employees was one of his top priorities."

"Everywhere you look across this command, you'll see where Perna has made things better," Via said.

Perna's next assignment will be deputy chief of staff, as a major general, for Logistics and Operations, U.S. Army Materiel Command at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala.

As Via continued, he praised JMC's workforce.

"JMC's workforce's talent and skills are available nowhere else outside of the Army," said Via.

Perna spoke next, and he joked that two years ago, when he found out he was being assigned here, he first googled JMC, then Rock Island, Ill.

"Now, 19 months later, I know all you do every day to provide our warfighters with the best ammunition available," Perna said. "You capably handle all facets and stages in the life-cycle of ammunition: production, storage, distribution and demilitarization."

Perna thanked the JMC workforce and said, "I'm remarkably proud of all you have done. Across the enterprise, you are second to none and you give me strength."

Perna commented on the tradition of the change of command.

"One of the greatest strengths of the U.S. Army is the seamless transition of its leaders. This seamless transition ensures that the mission continues even when a command's leadership changes. Today, JMC witnesses such a change. I have every confidence that JMC's new leader, Brig. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, will seamlessly transition here," Perna said.

He told O'Connell, "I am proud to turn the command over to you."

Most recently, O'Connell was director for Logistics, Engineering and Security Assistance, J-4, U.S. Pacific Command, at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii.

As the incoming commander of JMC, O'Connell spoke last.

"(Brig.) Gen. Perna set a high standard, one to which I hold myself accountable," said O'Connell.

"I already know that the Quad City community is unique in its support of the Army. My wife and I just arrived here from another island, Oahu. It feels like we left paradise and landed in heaven," O'Connell said.

O'Connell lost no time in setting down his top five priorities for JMC. These include deployability; survivability; mission support; taking care of people and their families; and having fun-especially people being excited about coming to work.

"At this time, (Lt.) Gen. Via, I'm ready to get to work," concluded O'Connell.

From its headquarters at the Rock Island Arsenal, JMC operates a nationwide network of conventional ammunition manufacturing plants and storage depots, and provides on-site ammunition experts to U.S. combat units wherever they are stationed or deployed. JMC's customers are U.S. forces of all military services, other U.S. government agencies and allied nations.