FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — The U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command FMX Directorate named Earl Ellegood, Heavy Mobile Equipment Repair supervisor, its Leader of the Year.
The TACOM FMX Directorate consists of four forward operating sites, including Fort Leonard Wood, and each site submits candidates to compete at the FMX Directorate level every year. The award — which recognizes outstanding achievement and effort in providing superior support to the FMX organization and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command — was presented to Ellegood on April 14 by Clayton Nagel, director and TACOM support officer at the Fort Leonard Wood FMX.
Ellegood spent his 20-year Army career as a heavy equipment operator, and finished his military service at Fort Leonard Wood. Nagel said he was nominated for his focus, innovation, leadership and commitment to his team and the FMX mission, which includes maintaining a fleet of more than 42,000 pieces of TRADOC equipment used in instruction at the Engineer, Military Police and Chemical schools, as well as the 58th Transportation Battalion.
“Mr. Ellegood is a caring and compassionate leader, who continually puts the welfare of the organization and his employees above his own,” Nagel said. “First-line, forward-thinking leaders like Mr. Ellegood are critical to our organization’s success. The FMX mission couldn’t be accomplished without leaders like him on the ground everyday making it happen.”
Ellegood said he doesn’t care for all the fuss, but still recognizes the meaningfulness of the award, and attributes his success to his team as a whole.
“It means a lot,” he said. “It tells me that my team is doing what it’s supposed to do — not me — my team. It’s a team effort. Leadership is everything, and you can’t have good leadership without good employees — the employees are what make or break you.”
Nagel said Ellegood’s work performance was not the only reason he was nominated; his commitment to his community also played a role in painting the picture of him as a leader to the FMX directorate.
“He takes an active role in the community youth programs in his area and supports the local schools,” Nagel said. “He attends scouting events and teaches kids trapping, fire starting and survival skills.”
Ellegood, who has 18 years of civil service, has simple advice for current and future leaders.
“Remember where you came from,” he said.
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