Pentagon -- Lieutenant General Aundre F. Piggee of the U.S. Army received his third star during a promotion and swearing-in ceremony today at the Pentagon in front of family, life-long friends, Soldiers throughout his career, and the Army's top leadership.
During the ceremony, host General Dennis L. Via, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), called Piggee a "great Soldier, a tremendously gifted leader, and an exceptional General Officer."
"Our Army has seen fit to name him Commander five times during his career, and twice during operational assignments." Via said. "He has clearly demonstrated the potential for even greater accomplishments in the future."
Piggee becomes the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4 (Army Logistics), where he will oversee logistics policies, programs, and plans for the Army. He is now one of only 50 Lieutenant Generals serving in the Army. Most recently Piggee served as the Director, J-4, United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, in Florida, where he was responsible for all logistics and engineering efforts in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. He spearheaded initiatives to reduce the Army's footprint in Afghanistan; to build partner capacity in Iraq; and train and equip missions in Syria.
As the new G-4, Piggee said his focus areas will be to build readiness; build a future force; and to take care of Soldiers, civilians, and families. "I have tremendous respect for what Lieutenant General Perna achieved in improving our expeditionary force capabilities the last two years --and working together we can build on that solid foundation," he said. His predecessor, Lieutenant General (Promotable) Gustave F. Perna, is becoming the new Commanding General at Army Materiel Command.
Piggee thanked the hundreds of people attending for the instrumental roles they played in his career. "I am one of the luckiest people in the world today," he said. He had special praise for General Via, who he met 20 years ago at Fort Hood. Piggee said "my father proudly served in Patton's Third Army as a truck driver. His service and stories helped me make up my mind to follow a military career. I am so proud that for the last 20 years I have served in Via's Army."
All of the attendees, including Army Secretary Eric Fanning, then gave GEN and Mrs. Linda Via, a standing ovation. GEN Via will be retiring tomorrow. As the Commanding General at Army Materiel Command, he has been responsible for 64,000 employees who conduct research and development of weapons systems, contracting, acquisition and manufacturing, and maintenance and parts.
During his 35 years in the Army, Piggee served three times at Fort Hood deploying with troops to Iraq, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kuwait. He served as the Commanding General of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command in Germany; as the C-4/J-4 of United Nations Command / United States Forces Korea; and at the Pentagon as the Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army.
Piggee, a native of Stamps, Arkansas, is married to the former Kassi Gideon, originally of Killeen, Texas. He said: "she has made such significant sacrifices for me. Kassi has given up two careers that she loved and was successful in -- to move overseas or wherever the Army sent me."
Also attending the ceremony were his mother, Maxine Piggee of Texarkana, Arkansas; his daughter Alexis Piggee of Atlanta, Georgia; his mother-in-law Shirley Gideon on Killeen, Texas; as well as several other family members and close friends.
Piggee earned his BS in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; his MS in Materiel Acquisition Management from the Florida Institute of Technology; and his MSS in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
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