Joint Munitions Command welcomes new leader

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- The Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command and Joint Munitions Command held an Assumption of Command Ceremony here, June 14, at Heritage Hall.

Col. Michelle M.T. Letcher assumed the responsibility as the senior leader of the JM&L LCMC and JMC during a ceremony hosted by Gen. Gustave F. Perna, commander, Army Materiel Command.

The Joint Munitions & Lethality Life Cycle Management Command is co-located at the Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, and Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. The JM&L LCMC aligns three organizations to execute the Army's munitions and lethality mission: the Program Executive Office for Ammunition; the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center; and the Joint Munitions Command.

Perna welcomed Letcher's family, who was present at the ceremony.

"Families are the cornerstone of our support. To all the family members, I want to thank you for all you do," said Perna. "You are our strength. God bless all of you."

Perna thanked Rhonda VanDeCasteele, who served as Executive Director of JMC, during the two-month gap between commanders.

"Not only did she sustain operations, but she pushed operations. She led the organization to a new level," he said.

Then, Perna turned his focus to the incoming commander.

"I have one hundred percent confidence in Michelle Letcher. She will lead this organization with confidence and skill. She will accept recommendations, assess risk, and move us forward," he said.

When Col. Letcher took her turn at the podium, she said, "It's an honor to be here today on the historic Rock Island Arsenal. I am humbled by the opportunity to join this great team at Joint Munitions Command and the community here in the Quad Cities."

Letcher arrives at Rock Island Arsenal after serving as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General of AMC, at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. She is a native of Oak Forest, Illinois, and was commissioned in the Air Defense Artillery branch via the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1995. She was branch detailed and became an Ordnance Officer in 1997. She has served in many command and staff positions during her military career.

With this new assignment, Letcher will have the opportunity to serve on the same installation as her husband, Col. Kenneth Letcher, who leads the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center on Rock Island Arsenal.

"To be honest, I was starting to feel a bit left out as Ken and the boys immersed themselves into the Quad Cities and this great community embraced them back," added Letcher. "The stories have been endless and I look forward to being a part of the strong partnership between this community and the Arsenal."

"General Perna, thank you for not only presiding over this ceremony but for the leadership you provide, leading and sustaining our Army every day and at the speed of war," she added.

"Today I am proud to assume command of an organization that excels in sustaining readiness for our military -- an organization that maintains a global presence wherever U.S. Forces operate," concluded Letcher.

Joint Munitions Command produces small-, medium- and large-caliber ammunition items for the Department of Defense. The primary mission of JMC is to manage the production, storage, issue, and demilitarization of conventional ammunition for all U.S. military services. JMC is the sustainment and logistics integrator for life-cycle management of ammunition and provides a global presence of technical support to U.S. combat units wherever they are stationed or deployed.

Related Links:

Joint Munitions Command webpage

Joint Munitions & Lethality Life Cycle Management Command webpage

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