Hodge takes command of SDDC

By SDDC Command Affairs OfficeJune 30, 2008

Official party
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Left to right) SDDC Command Sgt. Maj. Tomas Hawkins; Brig. Gen. Brian R. Layer, outgoing acting SDDC commanding general; Brig. Gen. James L. Hodge, incoming SDDC commanding general; Gen. Benjamin S. Griffin, Army Materiel Command commanding general;... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Passing the Colors
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Air Force Gen. Norton A Schwartz, U.S. Transportation Command commander, passes the transportation colors to Brig. Gen. James L. Hodge who took command of the U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command June 30 during a change of c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. Aca,!" Brig. Gen. James L. Hodge took command of the U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command during a change of command ceremony this morning at the Scott Air Force Base parade field.

Hodge assumed command from Army Brig. Gen. Brian R. Layer who has served as acting commanding general of SDDC since May 12.

Air Force Gen. Norton A Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, hosted the ceremony and Army Gen. Benjamin S. Griffin, commanding general, Army Materiel Command, officiated.

Aca,!A"ItAca,!a,,cs great to be back at SDDC,Aca,!A? Hodge said during the ceremony. Aca,!A"ItAca,!a,,cs a true privilege to serve again with a command that has proven time again that itAca,!a,,cs capable of learning to adapt to a changing environment.Aca,!A?

Hodge served as SDDCAca,!a,,cs deputy commanding general from August 2005 to September 2007. He recently returned from assignment as Army Materiel Command (Forward) commanding general and ArmyAca,!a,,cs Coalition Forces Land Component CommandAca,!a,,cs C4 (Logistics and supply), Southwest Asia.

Hodge is a native of Norton, Ohio. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in the class of 1978 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Transportation Corps. Upon completion of the Transportation Officer Basic Course, he was assigned as a platoon leader in the 7th Transportation Group, Fort Eustis, Va.

His past assignments include serving as movements officer and database analyst, 4th Transportation Brigade, Oberursel, Germany; operations research analyst and assignments officer, U.S. Army Personnel Command, Alexandria, Va.; supply officer (S4), 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash.; transportation staff officer, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany; logistics action officer, Officer Personnel Management System XXI Task Force, U.S. Personnel Command, Alexandria, Va.; logistics officer (G4), Headquarters 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; and chief Logistics Plans Division, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

He received his masterAca,!a,,cs degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California and a masterAca,!a,,cs degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. His military education includes the Transportation Officer Basic and Advance Courses, the Command and General Staff College, the Operations Research and System Analysis Aca,!" Military Applications Course, Defense Language Institute (French), and the U.S. Army War College.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster.

SDDC provides global surface deployment and distribution services to meet the

nation's objectives. SDDC deploys and sustains more than 90 percent of the Department of DefenseAca,!a,,cs equipment and supplies by leveraging the capability of commercial industry and other military services.

For more information about SDDC, visit http://www.sddc.army.mil/Public/Home .