Davidson takes command of SDDC

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Brig. Gen. Susan A. Davidson became the 19th commanding general of the U.S. Army's Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command today during a change of command ceremony, also marking her third assignment here.

Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Richardson, outgoing commanding general, retired after 34 years of service in the U.S. Army.

Army Gen. Dennis L. Via, commanding general of U.S. Army Materiel Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., was the presiding official and Air Force Gen. Paul A. Selva, commander of U.S. Transportation Command was the host.

Davidson has held a wide variety of command and staff positions. Previous to this assignment, she served as commander of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution.

Her key assignments include deputy commanding general/director of operations, SDDC; director, Integration and Strategy, G43/7 in the Deputy Chief of Staff Logistics, G4; executive officer to the deputy commanding general of AMC; deputy G3, 13th Corps Support Command; joint mobility operations officer, USTRANSCOM; executive officer and support operations officer, 524th Corps Support Battalion; Group S4, 45th Corps Support Group; Army reserve advisor, 78th Infantry Division; group plans officer, operations officer, and chemical staff officer, 7th Transportation Group; and director of Human Resources Command, Logistics Officers Assignment Branch for Captains.

Davidson has commanded at company, battalion and brigade level in peace and war. She commanded the 870th Transportation Company for 17 months, including an 11-month deployment in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. As a battalion commander, she commanded the 49th Movement Control Battalion forward during Operation Iraqi Freedom at Fort Hood, Texas. In 2007, she assumed command of SDDC's 599th Transportation Group, and deployed forward to simultaneously serve as commander of the 595th Terminal Transportation Group in Kuwait for six months before returning to Hawaii to finish her 599th command time.

Her military education includes the Chemical Officer Basic Course, Transportation Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Air Command and Staff College, Support Operations Course, Phase II, and the Navy War College. She holds a Master of Military Art and Science degree in Advanced Military Studies, and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

SDDC provides global surface deployment and distribution services to meet the nation's objectives and deploys/sustains about 90 percent of Department of Defense equipment and supplies by leveraging the capability of commercial industry and other military services.