FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- 1st Theater Sustainment Command Soldiers representing units from as far away as Egypt and Afghanistan welcomed Maj. Gen. Darrell Williams, incoming 1st TSC commanding general, and bid farewell to Maj. Gen. Kurt J. Stein, outgoing commanding general, at the unit's change of command Friday at Ritz Epps Physical Fitness Center here.
As the 1st TSC commander, Williams is responsible for all sustainment in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, including the effort to sort, pack, move and ship home thousands of pieces of equipment that have accumulated in Afghanistan over more than a decade.
"We understand the tremendous lineage and honors of this great organization and of the giants on whose shoulders we stand," said Williams.
A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., Williams was previously the deputy chief of staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
During his comments, Williams noted the critical challenge of sustaining our troops throughout the entire CENTCOM area of operations while simultaneously supporting the retrograde of equipment from Afghanistan.
Gen. Dennis L. Via, commanding general, United States Army Material Command, hosted the ceremony and noted the importance of the 1st TSC and the tremendous support the command has provided.
"Today the support that the 1st TSC provides under Kurt Stein's leadership is difficult to envision," said Via. "On any given day the 1st team is responsible for more than 3,000 vehicles driving almost a million miles, processing over six million supply requisitions, serving 50,000 meals and moving enough fuel to fill over two million standard cars. All while simultaneously supporting and closing out a theater of war and executing the largest retrograde in military equipment in modern military history."
Lt. Gen. James L. Terry, commanding general, U.S. Army Central, also spoke highly of the great accomplishments of the command during Stein's tenure.
"That effort--indeed, all of this very hard work--has Kurt Stein's fingerprints all over it," said Terry. "Kurt has been a proven commodity, successfully leading Soldiers and Staff in a number of vital positions."
Immediately following the change of command, Stein retired from the U.S. Army after 38 years of service.
"I stand before you full of emotion, full of gratitude and feeling so blessed to live among heroes for 38 years," said Stein. "For me it has always been about Soldiers and their Families so saying goodbye to a proud profession that has defined all but 17 years of my life is not easy."
Major General Williams' awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge and Parachute Rigger Badge.
Major General Williams is married to the former Myra Richardson and they have two children, Jocelyn and Colin.
The 1st Theater Sustainment Command provides command and control of Army deployment and sustainment operations conducted in support of joint and multinational operations across the range of military operations. With its headquarters at Fort Bragg, the 1st TSC provides and manages sustainment operations at bases in Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt and Afghanistan. For more information go to: http://www.bragg.army.mil/1stTSC/Pages/default.aspx, or visit us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/1stTheaterSustainmentCommand
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