REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.--In a room filled to maximum capacity, including more than 75 general officers and industry leaders, a former commanding general of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT) was honored Dec. 1 in a dedication ceremony for the Lieutenant General Larry J. Dodgen Memorial Conference Room.

Dodgen, who served as the CG for the command from 2003-2006, passed away unexpectedly in Feb. 2010 at the age of 60. Dodgen had retired from the Army in Jan. 2007 after more than 34 years of service. After retiring from the Army, Dodgen went to work for Northrop Grumman in Huntsville, Ala.

Dodgen was frequently referred to as a "Soldier's Soldier," and those who spoke about him at the dedication ceremony also commented on his leadership.

"He did the right things, and he did things right," said Lt. Gen. Kevin T. Campbell, the current commanding general of USASMDC/ARSTRAT.

"His accomplishments in this command were great and many," Campbell said of his predecessor.

At USASMDC/ARSTRAT, he was known among other things for his "Space to Mud" philosophy that shaped the command to be "Relevant and Ready."

"He had an ability to conceptualize the future...it's very fitting to dedicate a room to him where we discuss the future of our Warfighter," Campbell said.

To conclude the ceremony, Campbell and Dodgen's widow Leslie unveiled a permanent plaque announcing the dedication and recognition of the Dodgen Conference Room, located on the 5th floor of the Von Braun Complex Building 5220.