Col. Bob Pastorelli was ready to get started with his new job.
The incoming commander of the Garrison sat down with executive assistant Wendy Mitchell to discuss his schedule. Five days later, on July 29, he would succeed Col. John Olshefski in a ceremony at Bob Jones Auditorium. Olshefski retired with 27 years service.
"And do you do PT (physical training) in the mornings'" Mitchell asked.
"We'll see how it works," Pastorelli replied. "Trying to do PT at lunchtime is not going to work."
"It isn't," Mitchell agreed. "Not in this heat."
Welcome to the sunny South, Colonel.
Pastorelli, 45, with 23 years service, was born in Newton, Mass., so - predictably - he is a Boston Red Sox fan. He knows all about sluggers David "Big Papi" Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, closer Jonathan Papelbon and manager Terry Francona.
When asked to assess Boston's chances of winning the World Series again this year, he paused in thought. "More likely than not," he said finally.
Pastorelli also tries to support the local teams wherever he's stationed. Before coming to Redstone, he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C., from August 2007 until he graduated June 12.
"I'm honored to have been selected for this most prestigious leadership position and have the opportunity to work with Team Redstone," he said. "I look forward to working with Team Redstone members and building a community of excellence that first and foremost supports our Soldiers, civilians and family members.
"The No. 1 priority is making sure we take care of the Soldier, the war fighter, and their families because everything relates to them," he said. "We're a nation at war. And part of that - taking care of Soldiers - is taking care of our wounded Soldiers and their families."
He and his wife, the former Anna Lee Na of Korea, have two sons: Min, 23, a Georgia Tech graduate who works in Korea teaching English; and Bobby, who turned 10 on July 25 and will be a fifth-grader at Holy Spirit.
Pastorelli enjoys golfing, traveling, fishing and of course rooting for the New England teams - the Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Patriots.
"I'm honored to be here," he said of his message to the Redstone community. "I'm honored to be your (Garrison) commander. It's an honor to be able to command while our country's at war and being able to support the DoD team. And both Anna and I are looking forward to getting to know and working with the great people of the Team Redstone community."
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