ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- As part of Army tradition, the U.S. Army Sustainment Command held an inactivation ceremony in which it cased, and retired the official colors of the Distribution Management Center Sept. 29, here.

Two senior leaders, Col. Stacy Townsend, DMC commander, assisted by Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Moses, presided over the ceremony. Townsend has served as the commander since Aug. 15, when Maj. Gen. Duane Gamble, commanding general, ASC, hosted the last change of command ceremony for the center.

The DMC now becomes a directorate within ASC headquarters. It had been a brigade-level command since 2006. It executes integrated materiel management and materiel distribution in support of the Army.

The DMC has four key objectives: provide materiel management for the Army; equip the Army; provide maintenance operations management supporting Logistics Readiness Centers and Army Prepositioned Stocks; and synchronize strategic mobility efforts in support of ASC's global sustainment mission.

DMC has four divisions -- Distribution Management Division; Supply Division; Materiel Readiness Division; and the Operations and Mobility Division. The materiel management mission will continue with Townsend as the directorate leader.

As is customary, the DMC colors were cased to represent its inactivation. Staff Sgt. Ramon Otto assisted Townsend and Moses as the flag was rolled-up and retired.

During his remarks, Townsend reflected on the mission of the DMC. He noted the DMC ensures that "Soldiers and other service members in the field get what they need to execute the mission anywhere in the world, at any time, in any environment."

"In my short time here as commander and now director, I have seen that the DMC workforce is professional and diligent in our given mission and the chief of staff's No. 1 priority - readiness." Townsend added. "They do what they do because they understand the size, scope and impact of the DMC's mission."

"Our small group of dedicated professionals in the DMC work each and every day here in the Midwest - a thousand miles from the Pentagon and on the other side of the world from places like Afghanistan, where American troops are currently deployed in support of our Army's mission," Townsend said.

In conclusion, Townsend thanked all the distinguished visitors and staff in attendance. "Once again thank you all for coming. May God bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America."

As DMC's headquarters, ASC provides globally responsive strategic logistics capability and materiel readiness to enable combatant commanders to conduct the full range of military operations. ASC bridges the national sustainment base to the Soldiers in the field, bringing together the capabilities of the Army Materiel Command's subordinate units to provide the Soldier with the right equipment, at the right place and time, in the right condition. ASC is the command and control hub for global Army logistics.