FORT SILL, Okla.-- Col. Paul Hossenlopp, recalled his first tour at Fort Sill in 1987. He and his wife lived in a small house not too far from the Old Post Quadrangle, where he again said goodbye July 2. He left his position as garrison commander and Col. Glenn Waters stepped in during a change of command ceremony.
Hossenlopp is leaving Fort Sill for a joint assignment to Istanbul, Turkey. He will serve as the G3 operations for NATO's rapid deployment.
"Fort Sill is classified as a Category A garrison, which means it's the most complex garrison to manage. This is tough business, and it requires some real leadership. Paul was clearly the right leader to command U.S. Army Garrison Fort Sill," said Thomas Schoenbeck, Installation Management Command Central Region director.
Schoenbeck said Hossenlopp helped drive the Army's efforts to build and maintain readiness of the total force by executing 18 programs that support Soldiers and their families.
Hossenlopp thanked the commanding general and his sergeants major and the leaders in the Lawton community.
"The community is wonderful. It just felt like we had a great partnership. We tried to support all of their initiatives, they supported all of our initiatives."
As a fitness buff, Hossenlopp hopes to leaves a healthy impression on the Fires Center of Excellence.
"My favorite memory was when we did the garrison commander's challenge. I gave everybody three months to either lose 10 pounds or be able to execute a 5K ... or they could do both. It was just a challenge to adopt fitness as a lifestyle. A quarter later on May 23, we all took off on our 5K walk and run, and it was just a great event. We had close to 300 folks out there. Across the garrison we lost almost 1,500 pounds."
Hossenlopp also helped establish the Army's pilot program Veterans Opportunity to Work Act (VOW), which helps those leaving the military find positions in the civilian workforce.
"People keep congratulating me on a successful command and I don't understand that. To me, it's one of the saddest days in my career. I love Fort Sill and I love the people I work with," said Hossenlopp.
Waters just came from the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa. He thanked the command for bringing him on the Fort Sill team and he recognized Army spouses' sacrifices so Soldiers can accomplish the mission.
"Glenn brings outstanding leadership capabilities to Fort Sill. He is a proven combat leader and he is ideally suited to lead Fort Sill Garrison in supporting the priorities and requirements Major General McDonald has established for Fort Sill," said Schoenbeck.
"Major General McDonald, Mr. Thomas Schoenbeck thank you for your trust and confidence. I'm honored and humbled to serve as the garrison commander," said Waters.
"To the commanders, command sergeants major, and other tenant leaders, I look forward to working with you so that we can accomplish our missions to take care of Soldiers and families. This is especially true during these economically challenging times."
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