Maj. Gen. David Wilson, commander of Army Sustainment Command and Rock Island Arsenal senior commander, Command Sgt. Maj. Jorge Escobedo, Col. Daniel Mitchell, Rock Island Arsenal garrison commander and Col. Thomas Boland, ASC Chief of Staff, met with the Community and Business Leaders Tour participants to start their day.

Robert Foster, a Rock Island Museum volunteer and member of the museum’s historical society, introduces the visiting dignitaries to the recently renovated facility.

Members of the tour visited the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center to learn about their production capabilities in support of our armed forces.

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. – Community and business leaders from throughout the Quad Cities visited Rock Island Arsenal today to learn more about some of the activities and the reach of the arsenal’s contributions to our national defense.

“We are happy to host you today here on ‘your’ Arsenal,” said Maj. Gen. David Wilson, commander of Army Sustainment Command and senior commander of the installation. “We are proud to be here as your neighbor and partner.”

Participants in the program from the Quad Cities included community and business leaders from the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, City of Bettendorf, the Bi-State Regional Commission, Downtown Davenport Partnership, Downtown Bettendorf Organization, Rock Island Downtown Alliance, and Scott County.

The visitors received an overview of Arsenal units and organizations and how those teams contribute to the global missions of today’s military.

“If you look at a single piece of equipment in today’s Army, such as a Howitzer, all of the commands here at Rock Island contribute to that equipment in one way or another,” said Col. Daniel Mitchell, U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal commander. “Whether it’s the factory making parts, ASC fielding it, ACC contracting for materials, or First Army training our Soldiers, the commands here on the Arsenal have a hand in the process,” said Mitchell.

After the initial brief and meeting with installation leaders, the distinguished visitors walked through the recently renovated Rock Island Arsenal Museum and received a tour of the Joint Manufacturing and Technical Center’s production line to see firsthand some of the manufacturing being conducted by a portion of the Arsenal’s more than 6,000 employees.

“This was a fantastic opportunity to continue my education on what Rock Island Arsenal does and what it contributes to the community as a whole,” said Brian Irby, Quad City Chamber of Commerce Chief Strategy Officer.