MICC welcomes new commanding general

By Daniel P. Elkins, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeMay 27, 2021

MICC welcomes new commanding general
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Douglas Lowrey accepts the Mission and Installation Contracting Command organizational colors from Maj. Gen. Paul Pardew during a change of command ceremony May 27 at the Long Barracks on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Lowrey took command of the MICC from Brig. Gen. Christine Beeler, who departs to take command of the Army Contracting Command from Pardew June 3 at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. (Photo Credit: Daniel P. Elkins) VIEW ORIGINAL
MICC welcomes new commanding general
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Douglas Lowrey accepts the Mission and Installation Contracting Command organizational colors from Maj. Gen. Paul Pardew during a change of command ceremony May 27 at the Long Barracks on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Lowrey took command of the MICC from Brig. Gen. Christine Beeler, who departs to take command of the Army Contracting Command from Pardew June 3 at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. (Photo Credit: Daniel P. Elkins) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (May 27, 2021) -- Members of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command welcomed their new commanding general during a change-of-command ceremony conducted May 27 in front of the Long Barracks at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, as well as across virtual platforms.

Brig. Gen. Douglas Lowrey assumed command of the MICC from Brig. Gen. Christine Beeler in a ceremony officiated by Maj. Gen. Paul Pardew, the commanding general for the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

MICC welcomes new commanding general
Maj. Gen. Paul Pardew addresses distinguished guests, military leaders and members of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command during a change of command ceremony May 27 at the Long Barracks on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Brig. Gen. Douglas Lowrey assumed command of the MICC from Brig. Gen. Christine Beeler. Pardew is the commanding general of the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. (Photo Credit: Ryan L. Mattox) VIEW ORIGINAL
“It’s very proud day for me personally and professionally as I have served with both Brigadier General Beeler and Brigadier General Lowrey since approximately 2006. I can think of no better leaders to take our Army contracting into the future.” Pardew said. “The MICC is a diverse and impressive organization. It is arrayed to provide contracting support across our Army’s biggest commands. Many of the requirements are tough, complex, no-fail efforts that directly impact Army readiness.”

The ACC commanding general went on to praise Lowrey for his leadership efforts at the battalion and brigade levels of command in developing acquisition professionals as well as his lasting impression on the establishment of contracting support for the Defender Europe series of exercises.

Related: Change of command video

Lowrey comes to the MICC from Redstone Arsenal where he served as the commanding general of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command since August 2020. He previously served as the director of contracting for the office of the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology in Washington.

MICC welcomes new commanding general
Brig. Gen. Douglas Lowrey addresses distinguished guests, military leaders and members of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command during a change of command ceremony May 27 at the Long Barracks on Joint Base Sam Houston-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Lowrey assumed command of the MICC from Brig. Gen. Christine Beeler. (Photo Credit: Ryan L. Mattox) VIEW ORIGINAL

The new commanding general thanked Pardew for the opportunity to command and his trust and confidence to lead the MICC. He next laid out three top line challenges for the members of the MICC.

“No. 1, I want you to challenge the things we do every day. No. 2, I want you to challenge me personally and mold me into a better person, a leader and a better contracting professional. And finally No. 3, I want you to win,” Lowrey said. “It’s that simple. I want you to win with our partners, I want you to win with our allies.

“The chief of staff of the Army’s mantra is Winning Matters. This is especially true in our field of work. We have to execute and provide the goods and services our supported units require to accomplish their mission,” he continued. “I want you to win this battle every single time. I challenge each and every one of you; when you’re faced with what seems like a difficult contract situation to overcome, keep it simple and win.”

Command of the MICC will mark the fourth assignment of the new commanding general to the organization. He has served as a contingency contracting officer at Fort Hood, Texas, in the MICC’s legacy organization, the Army Contracting Agency, from December 2004 to December 2005. He next served as the executive officer for the 901st Contracting Support Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas, from June 2006 to June 2008 before returning to the 901st CBN in June 2010 to serve as commander until July 2013. His operational assignments include deployments in support of Operation New Dawn, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Intrinsic Action.

Lowrey earned his commissioned as an Infantry Officer through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1994 after graduating from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He was promoted to brigadier general in September 2020, making the Oklahoma native of Cherokee descent the only Native American general officer on active duty.

Beeler served as the MICC senior leader since July 2019 and has guided the command through its acquisition standardization efforts with category management and forging strategic alliances with supported mission partners as well as postured contingency contracting support in the Army’s response to the pandemic.

“It’s been an honor to serve team MICC, to be in Military City USA,” she said. “To ensure that the MICC was able to be one, the acquisition partner of choice, and two, an employer of choice in our space is really important to me. I thank you for everything you did and your unwavering support to the Soldier.”

Beeler departs organization to assume command of ACC during a June 3 ceremony at Redstone. Prior to the MICC change of command, Beeler was presented the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements while assigned to the command.