RED RIVER ARMY DEPOT, Texas -- Flags fluttered in the slightly cooler than usual breeze as distinguished guests, community officials and depot employees gathered for the Red River Army Depot change of command ceremony today. Col. Brandon L. Grubbs relinquished command of the depot to Col. Jason A. Carrico.
Officiating the ceremony was Maj. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters, commanding general for TACOM Life Cycle Management Command. The honor guard for the event was the TACOM LCMC Color Guard and music was provided by The Army Materiel Command Band, The Arsenal Brass.
"You, the heart and soul of the depot, have surely made significant strides under Brandon's watch -- all of which contribute to delivering Army readiness," said LeMasters. "This great team has repeatedly completed work ahead of schedule -- getting capability back into the hands of our warfighters quickly."
The ceremony featured a Texas salute with depot team members Rhonda and Scott O'Neal riding their horses Newt and Dally. The pair presented flowers to Kim Grubbs and Stacie Carrico, wives of both commanders. The invocation was given by Lt. Col. (Ret) Jerry Creek. Marshal McKellar, Director of the Business Management Office, sang the National Anthem and also served as the ceremony's narrator.
"I know that it has been almost 25 months since my arrival on the depot and in many ways it seems like we just arrived," said Grubbs. "They say time flies when you are having fun and although there have been some very challenging times on the whole, this has been the best assignment of my career."
Grubbs will retire in coming months, and he and his family will stay in the area.
Carrico comes to Red River after his last assignment as the Assistant Program Manager for Support and Sustainment at the Office of the Program Manager, Saudi Arabian Ministry of the National Guard in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Commissioned in 1992, Carrico is a native of West Plains, Mo. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (second award), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (eighth award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (second award), the Air Assault Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Army Staff Identification Badge and the Combat Action Badge.
"This is the first time in my Army career that I received my first choice of assignment and I can't say enough about the warm welcome my family and I have received from the depot team and the community," said Carrico. "I am honored to take command of Red River Army Depot and continue what Brandon and others before him started here."
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