TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. - It's been a while since Tobyhanna's new sergeant major repaired electronics systems and components at an Army installation in Germany -- a career path that would, 28 years later, lead him here.
Sgt. Maj. Kelvin Spencer intends to use his leadership skills and expertise as a warfighter to help depot employees build on a reputation for repair excellence. He assumed the position as depot/garrison sergeant major about a month ago following an assignment in the Netherlands.
As sergeant major, his responsibilities include overseeing mission requirements and quality of life issues here and in the local community. Spencer will advise the commander on all matters relating to Soldiers, the civilian work force and their family members. In addition, he will serve as the voice of the warfighters who use depot-repaired equipment once it arrives on the battlefield.
As a combat veteran, he remarked that Soldiers are relying on the dependability of Tobyhanna provided items. Knowing first-hand the importance of having quality equipment at forward-deployed locations, Spencer is ready to support Tobyhanna's efforts to give the warfighter the tools necessary to fight the war on terrorism.
"I just want to enhance the good things people are already doing here," he said. "I may not know a lot about Tobyhanna yet, but I've heard about the work being done here for years."
The sergeant major says he is impressed with the caliber of work accomplished at the depot. He emphasized that every job performed here is important to mission success.
"The employees are very professional," Spencer said, "and it's obvious that everyone knows how their job impacts the mission." He also noticed that Tobyhanna employees have set the bar high when it comes to standards of excellence.
The sergeant major commended the active duty, Guard and reserve Soldiers, working and training on the depot, pointing out that this is the Year of the NCO.
"Our NCOs are an integral link in the chain of command and leadership. This year-long observance will focus on the important role NCOs past and present have played in building one of the best armies in the world. It also reminds the nation that NCOs maintain the highest military standards through training, education and developmental experience in order to accomplish the mission and keep our nation safe."
Spencer joined the Army right after graduating high school. During his career, he has held a variety of duty and leadership positions at overseas and stateside locations. Each assignment offering increased responsibility and new challenges.
The Macon, Ga., native quickly advanced from a communications and electronics (C&E) radio repairer to the C&E maintenance support chief during his first overseas tour of duty. Upon returning to the states, he assumed instructor duties and taught Soldiers attending military occupational specialty school at Fort Gordon, Ga. Then, he spent two years as a drill instructor teaching new recruits how to be Soldiers.
"I was given the opportunity to teach at the same school I'd attended," Spencer said. "It was exciting to take what I learned and educate the next generation of Soldiers who would be repairing military radios."
Spencer returned to the communications field when he moved to Japan in the late 1990s. While stationed at Camp Zama, he performed duties as the C&E staff noncommissioned officer (NCO) and maintenance staff NCO. In 2000 he accepted a five year assignment at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., where he filled several leadership positions. During that time he served as first sergeant of the basic NCO course at the 59th Ordnance Brigade NCO Academy. Upon leaving Redstone, he took a position with the U.S. Army NATO Brigade in the Netherlands. While there he worked as the Communications Information Services Operations Center sergeant major.
"We were responsible for all the classified and unclassified communications information systems for the northern region of Europe - nine countries," Spencer said, explaining that he worked closely with the Ministry of Defense for 28 nations.
The sergeant major says he and his wife, Lindy, are thrilled to be a part of Team Tobyhanna. They are parents to Shaniel and Shanika, 24 and Sharika, 22. Spencer's hobbies include spending time with family, playing golf, fishing, traveling, listening to music, reading and surfing the Internet.
"Lindy and I want to be active members of the community," Spencer said. "We really like to volunteer and give back."
The sergeant major has attended several professional military education courses, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Touro University, Calif. He's pursuing a master's degree in business administration. His resume lists the following military courses: Senior Enlisted Academy, United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Drill Sergeant and the First Sergeants, Advanced NCO and Basic NCO.
"I believe my leadership training, time in the field and maintenance background will help me play an active role in the depot's future," Spencer said. "As a team we can accomplish anything."
Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.
About 5,600 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command. Headquartered at Fort Monmouth, N.J., the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
Social Sharing