USASAC bids farewell to commander

1 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's commanding general, the outgoing commander, passes the colors to Lt. Gen. Edward Daly, deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command, while Command Sergeant Major Gene Canada, center, observes. Dr. Myra Gray, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's Senior Executive Service officer and deputy to the commanding general, will assume Executive Director duties upon the conclusion of the relinquishment of command ceremony, 2 June 2020, at Redstone Arsenal. The event was hosted to a socially distanced audience with widespread online presence live-streamed through social media. (Photo by Richard Bumgardner, USASAC Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Richard Bumgardner) VIEW ORIGINAL

2 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Legion of Merit award given to Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's commanding general, upon his relinquishment of command during an awards ceremony, 2 June 2020, at Redstone Arsenal, AL. Dr. Myra Gray, USASAC's Senior Executive Service officer and deputy to the commanding general, will assume Executive Director duties. Lt. Gen. Edward Daly, deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command, hosted the virtual event to a socially distanced audience with widespread online presence live-streamed through social media. (Photo by Richard Bumgardner, USASAC Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Richard Bumgardner) VIEW ORIGINAL

4 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Chaplain (Colonel) Robert Nay, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's command chaplain, provides an invocation during a relinquishment of command ceremony, 2 June 2020, at Redstone Arsenal. Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's commanding general, relinquishes command to Dr. Myra Gray, USASAC's Senior Executive Service officer and deputy to the commanding general, who will assume Executive Director duties. Lt. Gen. Edward Daly, deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command, hosted the virtual event to a socially distanced audience with widespread online presence live-streamed through social media. (Photo by Richard Bumgardner, USASAC Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Richard Bumgardner) VIEW ORIGINAL

5 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Gene Canada, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's command sergeant major, stands at attention prior to the official passing of the colors, during a relinquishment of command ceremony, 2 June 2020, at Redstone Arsenal. Lt. Gen. Edward Daly, the deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command, hosted the event where responsibility of the unit will be passed from outgoing commander, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal, to Dr. Myra Gray, USASAC's Senior Executive Service officer and deputy to the commanding general, will assume Executive Director duties upon the conclusion of the relinquishment of command ceremony. The event was hosted to a socially distanced audience with widespread online presence live-streamed through social media. (Photo by Richard Bumgardner, USASAC Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Richard Bumgardner) VIEW ORIGINAL

6 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sergeant Major Gene Canada, behind unit flag in center, prepares to pass the colors to Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal, right, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's commanding general, who is the outgoing commander, at a relinquishment of command ceremony, 2 June 2020, at Redstone Arsenal. Lt. Gen. Edward Daly, center with back to camera, the deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command, hosted the event where responsibility of the unit will be passed to Dr. Myra Gray, left, USASAC's Senior Executive Service officer and deputy to the commanding general, who will assume Executive Director duties upon the conclusion of the relinquishment of command ceremony. The event was hosted to a socially distanced audience with widespread online presence live-streamed through social media. (Photo by Richard Bumgardner, USASAC Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Richard Bumgardner) VIEW ORIGINAL

7 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Maj. Gene Canada, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's command sergeant major, passes the colors to Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal, outgoing commander, during a relinquishment of command ceremony, 2 June 2020, at Redstone Arsenal, AL. Dr. Myra Gray, off-screen, USASAC's Senior Executive Service officer and deputy to the commanding general, will assume
Executive Director duties. Lt. Gen. Edward Daly, center with back to camera, the deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command, hosted the virtual event to a socially distanced audience with widespread online presence live-streamed through social media. (Photo by Richard Bumgardner, USASAC Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Richard Bumgardner) VIEW ORIGINAL

8 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Edward Daly, deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command, passes the colors to Dr. Myra Gray, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's Senior Executive Service officer and deputy to the commanding general, who will assume Executive Director duties upon the conclusion of the relinquishment of command ceremony, 2 June 2020, at Redstone Arsenal. Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal, right, the outgoing commanding general, and Command Sergeant Major Gene Canada, center, observe the passing of the colors, a traditional act marking change of authority. The event was hosted to a socially distanced audience with widespread online presence live-streamed through social media. (Photo by Richard Bumgardner, USASAC Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Richard Bumgardner) VIEW ORIGINAL

9 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Edward Daly, deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command, hosts a relinquishment ceremony for Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's commanding general, 2 June 2020, at Redstone Arsenal, AL. Dr. Myra Gray, USASAC's Senior Executive Service officer and deputy to the commanding general, will assume Executive Director duties. The event was hosted to a socially distanced audience with widespread online presence live-streamed through social media. (Photo Credit: Richard Bumgardner) VIEW ORIGINAL

10 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's commanding general, addresses the audience during a relinquishment of command ceremony, 2 June 2020, at Redstone Arsenal, AL. Dr. Myra Gray, USASAC's Senior Executive Service officer and deputy to the commanding general, will assume Executive Director duties. Lt. Gen. Edward Daly, deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command, hosted the virtual event to a socially distanced audience with widespread online presence live-streamed through social media. (Photo by Richard Bumgardner, USASAC Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Richard Bumgardner) VIEW ORIGINAL

13 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – As part of Army tradition, the audience sings the Army song at the conclusion of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's relinquishment of command ceremony, 2 June 2020, at Redstone Arsenal, AL. Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command's commanding general, relinquishes command to Dr. Myra Gray, USASAC's Senior Executive Service officer and deputy to the commanding general, who will assume Executive Director duties. Lt. Gen. Edward Daly, deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command, hosted the virtual event to a socially distanced audience with widespread online presence live-streamed through social media. (Photo by Richard Bumgardner, USASAC Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Richard Bumgardner) VIEW ORIGINAL

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Drushal relinquished command of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command during a ceremony June 2 at Redstone Arsenal’s Bob Jones Auditorium. Army Materiel Command’s Deputy Commander, Lt. Gen. Edward Daly officiated.

Daly began the ceremony by thanking guests for joining whether in person, or virtually via a live broadcast on social media. “This is kind of the new normal (due to COVID-19), he explained.”

Daly then praised Drushal’s leadership. “When Jeff assumed command almost two years ago in 2018, he brought with him a reputation as a premier and great logistician… so naturally Gen. (Gus) Perna (AMC Commanding General) had great expectations for you and this organization, to continue to climb the mountain and do bigger and better things; and let me just tell you, you have absolutely exceeded his expectations,” Daly said.

Daly also highlighted the importance of the foreign military sales work done under Drushal. “More than 7,000 cases validated, worth $204 billion in 166 countries,” he said. “This translates to well-equipped, capable and ready allies and partners around the world -- High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and Patriot Advanced Capability missiles in Poland, Kiowa helicopters in Greece, Stryker command vehicles in Thailand, unmanned aerial systems in Nigeria, logistics support vehicles in Argentina, and aircraft and LAVs (Light Armored Vehicles) in Saudi Arabia. Impressive, impressive, work…a difference made and a game changer,” Daly emphasized.

Drushal’s next assignment at U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, was a result of his great leadership and experience, according to Daly.

Drushal thanked Gen. Perna for giving him the opportunity to be assigned at USASAC. “Working with Gen. Perna has been like a two-year graduate lesson in leadership,” he said. “There was a lot of tremendous opportunity, and I will take many, many things to my next job and for the rest of my life,” he added.

Drushal also praised the USASAC workforce and the AMC Security Assistance Enterprise for their expertise and support. “They respond to leadership in a heartbeat,” he noted.

Both Daly and Drushal praised USASAC Senior Executive Service and Deputy to the Commanding General, Dr. Myra Gray, who assumed duties as the Executive Director following the relinquishment ceremony.

“You have great leader in Dr. Gray who will take over in the short-term (until the next commander of USASAC is assigned),” Daly concluded.

B-roll video available at: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/754719/usasac-relinquishment-command-ceremony