The Fires Center of Excellence and the Lawton-Fort Sill community honored the outgoing Field Artillery School commandant and chief of FA with a retreat ceremony June 6, in front of McNair Hall.
Brig. Gen. Christopher Bentley, his wife, Anne; and their daughter Elizabeth, were recognized in front of hundreds of fellow service members, civilian co-workers, friends and community leaders. Bentley's son Christopher, a college student back east, could not attend the retreat which honors the U.S. flag by lowering it in the evening.
During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. John Rossi, FCoE and Fort Sill commanding general, presented Bentley with the Legion of Merit medal for exceptional service as the FA commandant for the past year.
Rossi said Bentley "brought excellence to the commandant's office and succeeded in every way imaginable."
He recounted a couple areas where Bentley's service will have lasting impact. As commandant, Bentley developed adaptive leaders, Rossi said.
"Chris's impact on our young leaders will have a multiplying effect as they leave Fort Sill and take on leadership roles across our Army, across our nation and around the world."
And, Bentley fully embraced the modernization of the field artillery branch, the CG said.
Modernization includes training the most efficient, the most adaptable and the most prepared fires force the Army has ever seen, Rossi said.
None of this would have been possible without the support from Bentley's family, said Rossi, who presented Anne with the Alice Grierson award for community service.
"Your support to our families and community has been invaluable," Rossi said to Anne. He noted that she volunteered with numerous organizations including the Protestant Women of the Chapel, Child and Youth Services and Patriot Spouses Club.
In his speech, Bentley thanked numerous individuals for their untiring and enduring efforts including Rossi, the previous FCoE CG Maj. Gen. Mark McDonald and his wife, Connie; Bill Burgess, Oklahoma Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army; as well as the two Air Defense Artillery commandants and chiefs of ADA (Brig. Gen. Donald Fryc and Col. Christopher Spillman) who served during Bentley's tenure.
"You brought in an artilleryman and taught him what it meant to go beyond the division level," Bentley said. "I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve in an organization that influences, as we say, mud to space. The young FO (forward observers) in the trenches and our air defense counterparts who are fighting the strategic fight every single day."
Bentley also acknowledged the two command sergeants major who served under him: Sam Young and Daniel Moriarty; as well as Col. Wayne Harrison, Marine Corps Artillery Detachment commander.
The entire team moved not just field artillery, but the Fires Center of Excellence forward as a premier organization in the Army, he said.
Bentley will become the 3rd Infantry Division deputy commanding general for Support at Fort Stewart, Ga. His duties will include management of aviation brigades and logistics organizations.
Bentley said he is leaving the schoolhouse in good hands with Col. William Turner, who will come on board in July.
"Colonel Turner will, as we like to say, continue to move the ball down the field."
What will Bentley remember about Fort Sill?
"The people," he said. "The way this community supports Fort Sill, and the way Fort Sill supports the community."
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