U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii holds change of command and responsibility ceremonies, July 17, at Schofield Barracks. From left to right, Col. Douglas Mulbury, outgoing commander; Debra Zedalis (center), region director, U.S. Army Installation Management ...
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii has a new commander and new command sergeant major.
Col. Daniel Whitney took command from Col. Douglas Mulbury, outgoing commander, USAG-HI. Also, Command Sgt. Maj. Philip Brunwald took responsibility of the garrison from Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Williamson during a combined USAG-HI ceremony, here, July 17.
Debra Zedalis, region director, Installation Management Command-Pacific, said that Mulbury had made customer service a priority during his tenure, leading the garrison in its support of Army Force Generation requirements. These requirements included "outstanding mobilization, deployment, redeployment, reintegration and reset from more than 12,000 active and reserve component forces," Zedalis said.
Both the departments of Defense and Army recognized customer service during Mulbury's tenure. Those awards include the 2011 Secretary of the Army Superior Quality of Life Award for the garrison's Blue Star Card program, which supports Army families during deployment and run by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
Also, the garrison received the Secretary of the Army's 2011 "Natural Resources Conservation Team Award" and the 2012 Secretary of Defense team award for Natural Resources Conservation, both awarded to the Oahu Army Natural Resource Team, Environmental Division, Directorate of Public Works, USAG-HI.
Being good stewards of the land is just one part of running a garrison.
"A garrison exists solely to provide base operations services to Soldiers, civilians and families," Zedalis said.
Mulbury called the job of garrison commander "the most difficult job I have had in my Army career."
He oversaw services for 90,000-plus customers across the garrison's 22 installations and training areas on Oahu and the Big Island.
"But it's also been the most rewarding," Mulbury said. "Not a day went by that the garrison team didn't positively contribute to Soldier readiness, installation readiness, Soldier-family well-being, and maintaining our natural resources, so our Soldiers could properly train here."
Mulbury said that two of the most important things that Soldiers want to know are "where am I living and where are my kids going to school."
He thanked Island Palm Communities for providing 7,000 homes and the Hawaii Department of Education for providing schools.
"We have great partnerships that contribute everyday to the betterment of our Soldiers and family members," Mulbury said.
He also thanked the Native Hawaiian Advisory Council, stating, "You serve the Army well in your advice, and we appreciate all the efforts you've done to increase the interaction between the Army in Hawaii and the Native Hawaiian community."
Mulbury leaves to become the chief of staff for the 25th Infantry Division, here, while his command sergeant major, Williamson, will retire after more than 30 years of service.
During Whitney's remarks, he said he plans to follow the advice of one of his former brigade commanders and to "take a great unit and make it better."
"Thanks to Doug (Mulbury) and his team, Command Sgt. Major Brunwald and I will take a great unit and make it even greater," Whitney said. "This organization will continue to provide world-class support to U.S. Army-Pacific, 25th Infantry Division, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, as well as other Army players and joint players."
Whitney thanked the outgoing commander and his wife, Renee, for their support and friendship during his family's permanent change of station. "Your family has provided world-class sponsorship."
He also thanked James Duttweiler, deputy commander, USAG-HI, and wife, Kathy, for helping him to make a smooth transition into the garrison. He also thanked his children for "sharing your parents with the Army."
Whitney was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1989. He has served in a variety of operational and staff assignments, including as garrison commander at Hunter Army Airfield, Fort Stewart, Ga.
Before his arrival in Hawaii, he served as the chief of staff for the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.
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