20th CBRNE Command visit a top priority for MSCoE Command Team

By Maj. Troy FreyFebruary 8, 2019

20th CBRNE Command visit a top priority for MSCoE Command Team
Brig. Gen. James Bonner (2nd from right), commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Henney Hodgkins (right), senior enlisted advisor, 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command hosted Maj. Gen. Donna Martin (2nd from... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - The 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command hosted Maj. Gen. Donna Martin, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. James Breckinridge, MSCoE's senior enlisted advisor, at the 20th CBRNE Command headquarters on Aberdeen Proving Ground - Edgewood Area on Jan. 23, 2019.

"I have been in the seat as the commanding general of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence for a few months now, and this trip has been high on my priority list," said Martin, a native of Yorktown, Virginia. "I wanted to engage the team and to better understand the full capability set of this organization."

The 20th CBRNE Command team, Brig. Gen. James Bonner, commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Henney Hodgkins, senior enlisted advisor, met Martin and Breckinridge at the command's new headquarters building and provided a tour. Located on APG - North, the state-of-the-art headquarters is scheduled to be completed before the 20th CBRNE Command's 15th anniversary on Oct. 16.

"We are proud to be able to show Maj. Gen. Martin and Command Sgt. Maj. Breckenridge the progress on our new headquarters building," said Col. Adam Hilburgh, chief of staff of the 20th CBRNE Command, who led the tour. "It is important to demonstrate how the new headquarters will enable us to consolidate personnel and increase our mission command capabilities across our footprint."

After the tour of the new building, everyone moved to the command headquarters where the 20th CBRNE staff provided an in-depth overview of the command and answered questions.

"This is really an honor to have the MSCoE commander visit our command," said Bonner, when he addressed his staff. "MSCoE is a great teammate and we want to ensure we provide MG Martin with all the information she needs to be our advocate."

The MSCOE commander is the proponent for both maneuver support and CBRN activities, which both affect the 20th CBRNE Command.

"Since MSCoE is the proponent for the 20th CBRNE Command - relationships and synchronization between us is essential so that we can work together to identify and close potential gaps and risks," Martin explained.

Martin also provided the staff with her vision and priorities and discussed the expectations she has for the partnership between the 20th CBRNE Command and MSCOE.

"The 20th CBRNE Command is truly a unique organization - a unified alignment of numerous CBRNE capabilities that are both scalable and flexible - that I would encourage MSCoE leadership and supported commanders to engage with," Martin said. "I know several members of my team will be making the trip in coming months so that they can also hear firsthand what the capabilities and requirements are."

Martin was impressed by the command brief and how the discussion seamlessly moved between a proponency and an operational approach. The visit provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the command and confirmed the reputation of the 20th CBRNE Command.

"Expert Soldiers, leaders, and units from the 20th CBRNE Command have proven ready and responsive to every combatant commander worldwide for 15 years now," Martin said. "I am so proud of this unit's accomplishments and I am proud to serve with them."