REDSTONE ARSENAL, Al. -- In a change of command ceremony held at the Bob Jones Auditorium here June 21, Brig. Gen. Christine A. Beeler became the commanding general of the U.S. Army Contracting Command.
The ceremony also marked the retirement of Maj. Gen. Paul H. Pardew, who relinquished command of ACC to Beeler. Lisha Adams, executive deputy to the commanding general of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, hosted the ceremony.
Beeler comes to ACC from the U.S. Army Mission Installation and Contracting Command Headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio, where she served as the commanding general.
As ACC commanding general, Beeler will lead an organization of a professional workforce of Soldiers, Department of the Army Civilians, foreign local nationals and contractors at more than 100 locations worldwide with a global mission of delivering decisive contracting solutions across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the Joint Force, anytime, anywhere.
Adams led off the event by recognizing ACC’s tremendous support to the warfighter and reading a few personal notes that other Army leaders had written touting the success of Pardew’s role in Army acquisition.
Adams also praised Pardew for his leadership during the global pandemic and how the organization played a crucial role in its contracting support for OPERATION WARP SPEED.
"When the world needed a vaccine, we turned to the only organization who could make that happen – the Army Contracting Command,” Adams said.
Adams also praised Beeler for her pedigree as a leader and said she had the utmost confidence in her.
"I know she will continue to build on what has already been done to posture for the future of Army acquisition,” she said.
In his final remarks as the commanding general of ACC, Pardew praised the workforce, saying “ACC is a gem in the crown of AMC and our Army.”
He spoke particularly on the stellar execution of contracts in support the federal COVID response.
"You are a national asset and the whole nation owes you a debt of gratitude for what you did for every citizen of the United States and the world,” Pardew said.
Speaking about Beeler, Pardew noted they have frequently replaced each other and she has always given him extreme support.
“I look back and see how you have taken an organization and vastly improved it. I know ACC will be a better organization today and beyond,” he said.
During his speech, he expressed love and appreciation for his wife Kelly and their four children, saying “thank you for being the keel of the ship. CPT Pardew does not get to today without you.”
Pardew ended by thanking the great leaders, Soldiers, and civilians who supported him along the way, and leaving things a bit open for his own future.
“I’m not quite sure what is next for me,” Pardew said, “but I am looking forward to the challenge.”
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