FORT EUSTIS, Va. -- U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command welcomed its newest deputy commanding general and chief of staff during a ceremony outside TRADOC headquarters on Fort Eustis, Virginia, May 15, 2017.
Gen. David Perkins, commanding general of TRADOC, hosted the ceremony welcoming Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland to the TRADOC team as the command's 23rd deputy commanding general.
"These ceremonies are always great events," Perkins said. "They highlight the history and legacy of the units that we serve, and they're particularly meaningful and even better when they are welcoming a great team into a command as we are here with Sean and Linda MacFarland."
Perkins said there were a number of factors to consider when selecting TRADOC's next deputy commanding general, including not only the breadth of topics that the command covers, but also the timespan that TRADOC touches the Army -- from recruiting, to basic training, to advanced individual training and continuing throughout a Soldier's career with professional military education.
"It is a timespan that very few other commands in the Army get involved with," he said. "Therefore, the people that we put at senior levels -- they're not just affecting the Army today -- they're affecting the Army decades from now -- both with regards to the people … as well as the concepts, equipment and the organizations … being put in place today that will go through 2050 and beyond."
The TRADOC commander said MacFarland possesses the right combination of intellect, experience and judgement required for the job, having commanded at every echelon -- in peacetime and war.
Commissioned in 1981 from the U.S. Military Academy, MacFarland has served at all levels of command and staff in armor and cavalry units, with his most recent assignment as the 59th commanding general of III Armored Corps and Fort Hood, Texas. MacFarland assumed duties as TRADOC's deputy commanding general and chief of staff April 24, as Lt. Gen. Kevin Mangum retired after more than 30 years of service to the nation.
During the ceremony, MacFarland thanked Perkins, ceremony guests and his wife for her continued support, noting that this transition marked their 21st military move together.
In addition to being among friends from previous assignments and closer to family, MacFarland said he and his wife look forward to being part of the TRADOC team.
"Linda and I are really, truly thrilled to be here," MacFarland said. "We look forward to being part of this family as well and making whatever contributions we can to the important mission here -- in TRADOC -- and to the community.
"So thank you, and as I've learned already -- victory starts here."
Social Sharing