WIESBADEN, Germany -- The U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden community welcomed a new garrison commander during a change of command ceremony April 22 in the USAG Wiesbaden Fitness Center on Clay Kaserne.
Col. Todd J. Fish took command of the garrison following the relinquishment of command by outgoing commander Col. Mary L. Martin.
Community members, staff, host nation members and about 120 official guests, including nearly 100 official host nation partners, were in attendance. Twenty-five reservists from Landeskommando Hessen participated in the ceremony as well, to honor the partnership between the garrison and its host nation.
Installation Management Command -- Europe Region Director Michael Formica, thanked Martin for her service and praised her dynamic leadership skills and many accomplishments during her time as garrison commander.
While in command, Martin oversaw more than 160 construction projects in support of European Infrastructure Consolidation actions; she established an official partnership between Hessian Forces Command and USAG Wiesbaden and was able to meet a demanding mission during a time of significant manpower and budget reductions, Formica said.
As commander, Martin led the way in the garrison earning numerous awards, including the Installation Award of Excellence, the Secretary of the Army Energy and Water Management Award and the Certified Gold Service Award for the Wiesbaden Lodge, he continued.
Formica praised Martin's record of maintaining a strong alliance and forging vital bonds with host nation officials.
"While a garrison commander's job is complex and important anywhere in the world, I would argue that it's even more complex and more important in Europe, especially now," Formica said. "This is a time when dramatic events have made it more significant than ever that we show a strong and dynamic presence."
Martin bid farewell to the community at the event. Her next assignment is as the commandant for the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
"I must say, my most rewarding experience has been meeting so many wonderful people," she said.
Martin expressed how proud she was of garrison community members, as well as the host nation community and leaders, for all they've accomplished during her time as commander.
"The garrison is doing amazing things to ensure our community has a great place to live, work and play," she said.
Formica also welcomed Fish, who comes to Wiesbaden from the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, at Camp Henry, South Korea. His wife, Tracy, and children, Joshua and Jordan, will join him this summer.
Fish's hard work and global perspective, starting out as an enlisted infantryman and serving on multiple deployments in the Pacific, Middle East and Southwest Asia, give him experience that will serve him well here, Formica said.
Fish thanked the U.S. and German military counterparts for their service and expressed his appreciation for the warm Wiesbaden welcome, and shared his eagerness to join the Wiesbaden community.
"I'm very happy to be back in Germany," he said, repeating in German for the host nation members in attendance, "Ich freue mich sehr, wieder in Deutschland zu sein."
For more information, including Fish's complete biography, visit www.wiesbaden.army.mil/about/.
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