Command change at MSCoE, Fort Leonard Wood

By Ms. Dawn M Arden (Leonard Wood)August 30, 2018

Command change at MSCoE, Fort Leonard Wood
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The official party reviews the troops before changing command. During the ceremony, the command team of Maj. Gen. Kent Savre and Command Sgt. Maj. Jon Stanley passed responsibility of the installation over to the command team of Maj. Gen. Donna Marti... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Command change at MSCoE, Fort Leonard Wood
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FROM LEFT, Maj. Gen. Kent Savre, outgoing commanding general, Lt. Gen. Michael Lundy, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center commanding general, and Maj. Gen. Donna Martin, incoming commanding general, stand ready to review the troops during a Change-of-Comm... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood held a Change-of-Command and Relinquishment-of-Responsibility ceremony Tuesday on Gammon Field.

During the ceremony, the command team of Maj. Gen. Kent Savre and Command Sgt. Maj. Jon Stanley passed responsibility of the installation over to the command team of Maj. Gen. Donna Martin and Command Sgt. Maj. Henney Hodgkins. Hodgkins is the interim command sergeant major.

Martin and Hodgkins are the first females to hold these positions at Fort Leonard Wood.

Lt. Gen. Michael Lundy, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center commanding general, presided over the ceremony and said the Army and Fort Leonard Wood were honoring two great leaders.

Lundy thanked Savre for the work he has done during the past three years while commanding MSCoE.

"The work that the CG does here is absolutely critical to our Army as we continue to advance to the future, and the work that you've done, Kent, with your great commandants, is absolutely remarkable," Lundy said. "The legacy you have left is a legacy of leadership, a legacy of teamwork. You can see that on the field today and in all the activities that you do. So, Kent, you should be very proud of what you've done."

He said Savre and his team exemplified what it means to be Army professionals.

"To the entire MSCoE team, you can be very proud of the work you do every day. It makes a difference for our Soldiers out on the battlefield, it makes a difference for our Sailors out to sea, it makes a difference for our Marines and our Airmen out there," Lunday said. "Every day, what you do makes a difference, and I'm very proud of you."

Savre agreed and credited the community for the support they give the installation. He also said he is proud to have served on the Fort Leonard Wood.

"I'm really proud of the capabilities that this team brings and the bigger team they represent," Savre said. "We're able to sustain our efforts because of the great community we have here in the heart of America, and we're so thankful for that."

Savre said Martin is the right leader to take charge of the installation.

Lundy agreed with Savre's assessment of the incoming team.

"We have a great team coming in, and I'm fully confident in Donna Martin and the way she's going to lead this organization," Lundy said. "I'm absolutely looking forward to the next two or three years."

Martin thanked both Savre and Lundy for the trust and confidence they have placed in her and said she is honored to continue to serve under Lundy's leadership.

She thanked Savre for his service and the command climate he created.

"I've always believed in the team-of-teams motto, and I believe it is a direct reflection of your leadership," Martin said. "You have made a lasting, positive impression on me, Fort Leonard Wood and our Army."

She then addressed Hodgkins and the MSCoE team.

"To Command Sgt. Maj. Hodgkins, I look forward to having you as my battle buddy. Your reputation for excellence precedes you, and I know we're going to do great things together," Martin said. "To Team MSCoE, there is no place I would rather be than right here, and it is my distinct honor and privilege to serve with you. I look forward to all the future will bring and what it has in store for us as we begin this journey together."

A ceremony was held the afternoon prior for Savre, who retired after 34 years of service. Stanley is moving on to a position at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

Martin was most recently the U.S. Army Military Police School commandant, and Hodgkins the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School regimental command sergeant major.

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood on Flickr

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood