PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The most recent general officer in the Army is assigned to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command.
Col. Timothy R. Coffin, deputy commander for operations, USASMDC/ARSTRAT, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general June 6 during a ceremony in front of the command's operations headquarters on Peterson Air Force Base.
Lt. Gen. Richard P. Formica, commanding general, SMDC/ARSTRAT, and host for the ceremony stated, "We expect all of our leaders to be selfless servants."
"It is not about self, it is about serving our Army, our Soldiers and their families. That is especially true for our general officers. For the first time in Tim's career he will no longer be evaluated for technical and tactical competency," he continued. "Rather he will be assessed by his seniors, his peers, and most importantly his subordinates, by how selflessly he serves our nation - and by the manner in which he serves as part of a team. It is about selfless service and teamwork that define general officers.
"And he has got all of the right Space-related job experience to have earned the opportunity to get promoted today from cornel to brigadier general," he said.
Before Coffin received his new rank and took the Oath of Office, he received two honors for past service. The first was the Defense Superior Service Medal while serving as director of Operations and Training, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, U.S. Strategic Command, from July 2008 to February 2011.
The second award was the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his service while assigned as chief of the U.S. Stragetic Command Forward Integration Team, Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, from July 2010 to January 2011.
After the awards, Coffin's wife, Khristy, and daughter, April, pinned on his one star. Coffin also received the general offer ensemble of cap and belt. His father Bernie assisted with the uncasing of the one star flag.
Coffin then addressed the crowd gathered by saying, "I am awestruck to be here today seeing the outpouring of congratulations that comes from both here and from other areas."
Turning to his father he said, "Dad, you have been to every promotion that I've had over the years. You set an example for me of leadership, of ability to make things happen, and of can-do-attitude. Thank you so much for being there."
Coffin assumed the position of Deputy Commander for Operations, USASMDC/ARSTRAT in March 2011. The position was previously held by Brig. Gen. Kurt Story.
He originally came to USASMDC/ARSTRAT (then Army Space Command) in 1999. During his tenure he became the first commander of the 1st Space Battalion. Coffin left the command to work in other areas of Space, including the Future Warfare Center, until 2006 when he was selected to command the 1st Space Brigade. After leaving command, Coffin continued his work in the Space field, serving as Director of Operations, Training and Exercises for the Joint Functional Component Command for Space, United States Strategic Command.
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