SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Maj. Gen. Stephen E. Farmen became the 21st commanding general of the U.S. Army's Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command during a change of command ceremony, Feb. 16, making this his second assignment in the command.
Farmen commanded the 598th Transportation Brigade, headquartered at Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from 2008-2010.
Army Gen. Gustave F. Perna, commanding general of U.S. Army Materiel Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, was the host and presiding official, and Air Force Gen. Darren W. McDew, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, also participated in the ceremony.
Farmen replaced Maj. Gen. Kurt J. Ryan, who had commanded SDDC since June 2016.
"SDDC is gaining an experienced logistician and a highly capable senior leader," said Perna during his remarks. "I'm confident Steve is the right commander at the right time for SDDC."
McDew concurred. "This organization, this formation, these surface warriors make a difference every single day for the greatest nation on earth," said McDew.
Farmen has held a wide variety of command and staff positions. Prior to this assignment, he commanded the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command at Redstone Arsenal.
He graduated from the University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and was commissioned into the Transportation Corps. The majority of his career has been spent in Army transportation and logistics.
Farmen's varied career includes serving as a company commander in North Carolina, battalion commander in Germany, brigade commander in the Netherlands, commanding general of an Expeditionary Sustainment Command in the Republic of Korea and as the commanding general of Joint Munitions and Lethality Life-Cycle Management Command and Joint Munitions Command in New Jersey and Illinois.
He holds a master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. His military education includes the Transportation Officer Basic and Advanced Courses and the United States Naval Command and Staff College.
Among his awards are the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with two oak leaf clusters), the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters). He also wears the Senior Parachutist Badge and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.
"I'm thrilled to be standing here at Scott Air Force Base and take the reins of the mighty SDDC team," said Farmen.
SDDC provides global surface deployment and distribution services to meet the nation's objectives. Serving as Department of Defense's global surface transportation experts, SDDC plans, books, ships and tracks cargo; and conducts port operations by leveraging the capability of commercial industry and other military services.
Social Sharing