TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. -- On February 1, Tobyhanna Army Depot employees celebrated 65 years as a communications-electronics repair and test facility.

Depot commander Col. Nathan Swartz led a ceremony that involved Deputy Commander Frank Zardecki and recent Pathways Program graduate Tracey Supple, now an accountant, cutting a cake to mark the anniversary.

The depot, built on land originally used by the Army beginning in 1912 for artillery training, opened its doors in February 1953 as a new facility for the storage of communications-electronics equipment. Its missions expanded to where it is now the premier Department of Defense facility for the repair, overhaul, testing, fabrication and design of communications-electronics systems and components ranging from night vision devices and radios to satellite terminals.

The depot now supports command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems and components, known as C4ISR.

Highlights of the depot's 65 years of C4ISR support include:

1953--The depot's first action upon opening is to take in seven railcars of cable from Belle Mead General Depot in New Jersey for storage. The depot soon became the region's largest employer.

1982--The dedication of the Communications-Electronics Production Facility kicked off a 15-year construction and modernization program that results in an Automated Storage and Retrieval System, Shelter Movement and Handling Facility, High-Tech Reserve Component Training Facility, Satellite Communications Facility, Communications Security Building, Tactical End Item Repair Facility and an Industrial Operations Facility.

1995--The region rallied around the depot when it was considered for closure. A Blue Ribbon Task Force of area business leaders and elected officials coordinated a "Keep the Best" campaign. Subsequently, the Base Realignment and Closure commission closed Sacramento Air Logistics Center and directed its ground communications-electronics workload to Tobyhanna.

2000--Tobyhanna earns star status in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program, making the depot the first Defense Department agency to earn that distinction. The three-year transition of more than 160 ground communications-electronics systems from McClellan Air Force Base to Tobyhanna was completed.

2001--A Tactical Missile Facility operation begins to repair and test missile guidance and control systems. Missiles include the Maverick and Sidewinder.

2003--A new Industrial Operations Facility consolidates such functions as painting, plating, blasting and equipment cleaning in a 91,000 square foot building.

2007--A new Child Development Center, a 20,000 square foot facility, increases capacity to 221 children.

2008--Tobyhanna installs first-of-its-kind, mechanical live fire test simulator, a $6 million facility for new and repaired Lightweight Counter Mortar Radars.

2011--The depot raises a 77-foot radome to support the new AN/TPS-59 radar antenna workload.

2012--A state-of-the-art finishing facility boasts 78,000 square feet and expands and modernizes the depot's capacity to repair, refinish and paint large, tactical C4ISR weapons systems.

2016--A new mission to support computer software begins. The mission is in partnership between Tobyhanna Army Depot and the Software Engineering Center (SEC) to shape the future of software sustainment for the military's communications-electronics systems. The SEC is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command.

2017 -- Building 1A, the depot's largest building, opens following two years of modernization.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna's Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.

Tobyhanna's unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our Joint Warfighters.

About 3,200 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.