Lt. Col. Adam Woytowich takes command of Picatinny Arsenal garrison during unique change of command ceremony

By Eric KowalJune 19, 2020

Brig. Gen. Vincent F. Malone II, Picatinny Arsenal commanding general (right), passes the garrison guidon to the incoming garrison commander, Lt. Col. Adam Woytowich.
Brig. Gen. Vincent F. Malone II, Picatinny Arsenal commanding general (right), passes the garrison guidon to the incoming garrison commander, Lt. Col. Adam Woytowich. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Jesse Glass) VIEW ORIGINAL

Lt. Col. Samuel Morgan relinquished command of the Picatinny Arsenal garrison on June 17, during a virtual change of command ceremony made necessary because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As the incoming garrison commander, Lt. Col. Adam Woytowich assumed responsibility for the day-to-day operations on the installation.

As garrison commander, Woytowich will serve as Brig. Gen. Vincent F. Malone II's senior executive responsible for all installation activities. Malone is the Picatinny Arsenal commanding general, having taken command himself just last month.

Woytowich will sustain the command, control and operations of the installation of support missions and readiness of all tenant units. He will also help ensure the health, morale and welfare of the residents of Picatinny Arsenal.

Davis Tindoll Jr., director of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command – ID Sustainment, hosted the ceremony from a remote location, the first time he has not attended a change of command ceremony for commanders under his purview during his tenure.

“Truth be told, I know you probably didn’t anticipate being a garrison commander,” Tindoll said as he addressed Morgan. “I’m sure you could have commanded any logistical battalion in the Army with ease. But, personally I am happy the Army chose you to lead the Picatinny Arsenal garrison.”

As part of the change of command ceremony, the Picatinny Arsenal garrison guidon passed through the hands of Command Sgt. Maj. Anneka Ford to the outgoing garrison commander, into the hands of the commanding general, and eventually into the hands of the incoming garrison commander.

The commanding general took the stage following the honorary tradition to provide a few remarks.

“Sam (Morgan) has a reputation for leading the garrison to get things done,” Malone said. “He is also a great manager of resources and a champion for the installation.”

Malone talked about Morgan’s challenges in getting the Picatinny workforce ready to return following the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m sure that challenge was not on the top of Sam’s mind when he walked into the position of garrison commander. It’s probably low on the list of things he thought would happen, and certainly not one that we have exercised. But he rose to that challenge.”

Morgan leaves Picatinny to continue his education, part of a requirement to help further his career in the Army. He will attend the Naval War College, which helps to develop the military’s strategic and operational leaders. He was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal in an awards ceremony prior to the change of command.

“Thank you so much, thank you for everything you do for our nation,” Morgan said to the Picatinny workforce as he held back his tears in his short but emotional farewell speech.

Woytowich comes to Picatinny from the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., where he previously served as a Special Operations Personnel Systems staff officer.

Under his command, Woytowich will have approximately 400 servicemembers, civilian employees and non-appropriated fund employees.

Picatinny Arsenal is the Joint Center of Excellence for Lethality, providing products and services to all branches of the U.S. military. Its team of more than 6,000 personnel includes Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, civilian employees and contractor personnel who lead in the research, development, acquisition and lifecycle management of advanced conventional weapon systems and ammunition.

Picatinny's portfolio comprises nearly 90 percent of the Army's lethality and all conventional ammunition for joint warfighters.