The National Anthem is performed during the Hawthorne Army Depot Change of Command Ceremony, June 30. Saluting from left to right: Lt. Col. Gregory Gibbons, Hawthorne outgoing commander; Col. Jimmy Brown, commander, Tooele Army Depot; Lt. Col. Scott ...
Hawthorne Army Depot, Nev. -- Under fair skies and warm and windy conditions, the Hawthorne Army Depot welcomed a new senior leader during an official Change of Command Ceremony, held here, June 30.
Lt. Col. Scott M. Bishop replaced Lt. Col. Gregory K. Gibbons, who relinquished command of HWAD after two years as the senior leader.
Col. Jimmy Brown, commander, Tooele Army Depot, served as the official host and commended Gibbons for his efforts over the past two years. The Hawthorne Army Depot has excelled at its Department of the Army mission under Gibbon's guidance. Hawthorne Army Depot stores conventional munitions; demilitarizes and disposes of unserviceable, obsolete and surplus munitions; and maintains serviceability through inspection and renovation to ensure munitions readiness.
"It has been two years and two days since I stepped out on this parade field and took command of Hawthorne Army Depot," said Gibbons during his farewell remarks. "The past two years have gone by extremely fast. The town of Hawthorne truly is 'America's Patriotic Home.' You should be proud of who you are and what Hawthorne does for this country and for our Veterans. Thank you for opening your doors and arms and welcoming my family and myself into the Hawthorne family."
"Col. Brown, thank you for having the trust and confidence to allow me this opportunity," said Bishop during his remarks. "I am truly honored to join the team at the world's largest ammunition storage depot and DoD's premier demil facility. I will continue to build on the progress Lt. Col. Gibbons has made during his time at Hawthorne."
The ceremony featured the singing of the National Anthem, a prayer from the chaplain, and the posting of the colors by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Color Guard.
Guests were invited to greet the Bishop and Gibbons Families immediately following the conclusion of the event.
Hawthorne Army Depot is a subordinate installation of JMC, headquartered at the Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois. Joint Munitions Command manages ammunition manufacturing plants and storage depots that provide ammunition to all military services, other federal agencies, as well as to allied nations.
Hawthorne Navy Ammunition Depot was established after a 1926 explosion destroyed the Lake Denmark, New Jersey, Naval Ammunition Depot. Construction began on Hawthorne in 1928.
During the pre-war years of 1930-1939, the depot's mission was to store, service, and issue ammunition to the Pacific area. During World War II, the depot served as the staging area for bombs, rockets, and ammunition for nearly the entire war effort. In 1944, the depot became involved in the demolition of various types of allied and enemy ammunition.
The depot also served as an important ammunition center during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and expanded onto 236 square miles of land. The mission/function of the installation remained essentially the same over its history - receive, renovate, maintain, store, and issue ammunition, explosives, expendable ordnance items, and/or weapons and technical ordnance materiel.
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