FORT SILL, Oklahoma (Aug. 10. 2021) – The Training and Doctrine Command’s Army Capability Manager Fires Cells – Targeting (ACM FC-T) welcomed a new director during a change of charter ceremony Aug. 10, at the Old Post Quadrangle.
Incoming Col. John Whelahan Jr. took the reins from Col. Michael Kimball, who will remain here as the new Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill chief of staff.
Whelahan was most recently with U.S. Army Central at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he was the director for Fires and Effects.
The ACM FC-T manages the fielding of all FA equipment to Soldiers and provides their feedback of those systems to TRADOC leaders, according to the charter. It is the user’s advocate to ensure FA Soldiers have the gear they need.
Brig. Gen. Andrew Preston, Field Artillery School commandant and chief of FA, and deputy commanding general FCoE and Fort Sill, highlighted Kimball’s accomplishments and he welcomed the Whelahans.
Since Kimball took over ACM FC-T in August 2019, the unit helped field an FA weapons system that previously had four years of production delays, and it also brought back another system to prominence by modernizing it, Preston said.
“His team successfully delivered an experimental version of AFATDS (Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems) software to support specific operations,” the general said. They also created software to support long range precision Fires, and hypersonic Fires.
Many of these systems developed by ACM FC-T have been used in combat with great success, Preston said. The ACM team also ensured that field artillery students here were being trained in the latest technologies.
“Mike, the impact you’ve made within the ACM Fires cannot be overstated, and congratulations on your selection as the new Fires chief of staff,” Preston said. “There are few jobs harder than being the chief (of staff).”
Preston said that he could think of no one better suited to take the reins of ACM FC-T than Whelahan. “John, I have full faith and confidence in your ability to help continuing to create unfair fights for adversaries.”
In his speech, Kimball first thanked his wife Melissa for her support the past 25 years, and his four children. He went on to thank numerous individuals by name for their trust, mentorship, and support.
He said the accomplishments of the ACM FC-T were possible because of a Herculean team, really a family. He thanked Steve Ford, deputy director, and Ford’s predecessor for having built the team.
“I cannot thank you enough for helping me realize my vision, and for the selfless dedicated work that you have put it,” Kimball said. He continued thanking many team members.
Whelahan has almost 30 years of service. He originally enlisted and was a food service technician. He later graduated from Excelsior College and attended Officer Candidate School.
This is Whelahan’s first permanent assignment at Fort Sill. “As a field artilleryman being at the home of ‘King of Battle’ is just a good feeling,” he said.
He attended the FA Basic Officer Leader Course here in 1996. He noted that he has only about five years commanding firing units. “The rest of my time has been spent in Fires support, Fires cell targeting.”
Whelahan described his time at Shaw AFB as fantastic.
"We (the military) are a joint community and there is no better way to grow that jointness than to live with the other services," he said.
When the opportunity come up at Fort Sill it just felt like a hand in a glove, Whelahan said. Still, he asked his wife Sharon if he should accept the assignment.
“Without hesitation my wife looked back at me and said that she couldn’t imagine not returning (here) for me to apply my passion and experience,” said Whelahan emotionally.
Whelahan said his leadership style has not changed over the years.
“I have firmly felt and believed that when my leaders empowered me as a young Soldier and young officer, it encouraged me to look for creative ways to get the job done effectively and efficiently. I just tried to carry that through over the years.”
Afterward, the Kimballs received a long line of well-wishers. And, the Whelahans met the community at the Patriot Club.
Before the ceremony Kimball was presented a Legion of Merit Medal by Preston. Melissa Kimball received two community service awards: the Army Meritorious Public Service Award, and the Order of the Red Legacy.
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