PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. -- Craig Cugini, director of the Picatinny Arsenal Garrison Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security (DPTMS), will be leaving the installation temporarily.
Cugini was selected for a six-month, career-broadening assignment as the Deputy Garrison Commander, Fort Greely, Alaska.
Fort Greely's installation mission is mid-course missile defense (destroying threat missiles in their midcourse phase). Fort Greely is also host to the military missions of the Cold Regions Test Center, and by Intra-Service Support Agreement, the Northern Warfare Training Center.
Cugini began working at Picatinny in 2007, serving as the installation's anti-terrorism officer. In 2010 he moved up to become the DPTMS director.
Perhaps his most memorable experience while working in the position was during the historic storm, Hurricane Sandy.
Although his own home has suffered damage from the storm that closed the post for nearly a week, and crippled the Garden State as a whole, Cugini stood up the installation's emergency operations center, where he worked around the clock.
Once service to the installation were restored, Cugini, also a member of the New York National Guard, mobilized with his unit for relief efforts on Staten Island. It was not until three weeks after the storm that Cugini was able to return home.
Cugini said that his focus in the transition to his new role in Alaska will be to understand the challenges that the garrison commander faces and pair that with her goals. Cugini will serve as the right hand man to Lt. Col. Detrice Mosby, whose position is similar to a "town mayor" of sorts.
"It's hard to do anything or make any significant contributions in just six months, but I am up for the challenge," Cugini said.
"There is always room for improvement, the cycle is continuous."
In his absence the DPTMS staff will continue to function under normal operating procedures.
Social Sharing