FORT EUSTIS, Va. - U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command welcomed its new command sergeant major during a ceremony at the headquarters' Morelli Auditorium Feb. 25.
Surrounded by family, friends, Soldiers and civilians, Gen. David G. Perkins, TRADOC commanding general and ceremony host, congratulated and welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. David S. Davenport Sr. and his wife Claudia to the TRADOC team.
"When the Army decides to pick its command sergeants major, it does not do so lightly," Perkins said, adding that Army talent management means putting the right leader in the right job at the right time.
Although the Army chooses its top sergeants major for the opportunity to lead at the four-star level, Perkins said selecting the next TRADOC command sergeant major meant finding someone who understands what TRADOC does and what it's for.
"All you have to do is find the noncommissioned officer -- the one person that's going to be what right looks like for leader development, who embodies professional military education, who has the foresight to help design the Army for the next 30 years."
TRADOC's commanding general said actually, it wasn't a difficult decision at all.
"When I got the list, it became clear that once again the Army has made my life easy for me -- they made it very clear who could fill all those requirements, and it was Command Sgt. Maj. Dave Davenport."
Throughout a career spanning more than 30 years, the Nashville, Tennessee, native has served in every enlisted leadership position from cavalry scout and tank commander to his most recent position as the command sergeant major of U.S. Army Europe.
"I think the reason most of us continue to serve our great Army is for the opportunity to make a difference and the people you meet along the way," Davenport said, reflecting on the colleagues and experiences that have shaped his career.
A self-proclaimed huge fan of baseball, Davenport compared his philosophy to Cal Ripken Jr., who currently holds the record for most consecutive games played.
"If you don't know anything about baseball, it was 2,632 consecutive games spread out over 15 seasons. And, (Ripken) said he felt he had a sense of responsibility, a sort of old-fashioned value that it was your job to come out and play hard every day, and be proud of what you accomplished with your team."
In just the short time Davenport has been at TRADOC, he said he has already seen the hard work put forth by the command in designing and building the future force.
"I have been thoroughly impressed by the amount of effort that goes on in this organization to make sure we have the very best products -- our Soldiers -- going to units," he said.
Davenport then thanked the commanding general for the opportunity to join the team, and expressed his commitment to TRADOC and the Army.
"So with your appointment sir, I'm ready to take the field, and I commit to you that I will work hard every day to make sure we get the very best Soldiers going into the force."
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