DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, Utah – The command of Dugway Proving Ground (DPG) changed hands in a traditional Army ceremony on Thursday, 13 July. Major General James Gallivan, Commanding General, U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC), was the was the presiding official for the transition from Colonel Brian T. Hoffman to Colonel James P. Harwell.
COL Hoffman commanded DPG since July 2021 and will continue his Army career as the U.S. Army V (fifth) Corps Director of Operations. COL Harwell takes over the nation’s premiere Major Range and Test Facility Base for Chemical and Biological Defense Testing and Evaluation as the installation’s 43rd commander. COL Harwell has served in a variety of command and staff positions, most recently with the Joint Staff as the Deputy Director of the Joint Requirements Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense at the Pentagon.
MG Gallivan and COL Hoffman thanked the Dugway and Utah community for their support of the Army and the Department of Defense’s mission; “without the community inside Dugway and across the state of Utah and across our country, we can’t be ready,” said MG Gallivan. COL Hoffman thanked the contractors, civilians, and Soldiers for their dedication to the mission and the sacrifices they make to ensure greatness is achieved by Dugway Proving Ground. “You are the ones that motivate me. You’re the ones that make me get up every morning, and so no matter if you’re a test officer on a target at 2am, a member of the garrison team fixing homes, paving roads, protecting our families, or a member of the clinic team, thank you for what you do.”
COL Harwell focused his speech on thanking the Dugway community, “our hearts are full as we make new friends and form new bonds.” The 24-year Army veteran also thanked his predecessor for his passion and guidance leading up to the Change of Command, “he was single-mindedly focused on ensuring that he prepared me and my family to serve the community of Dugway.”
COL Harwell’s first duty assignment was Fort Stewart, GA where he served on Battalion, Squadron, and Division staffs and as a decontamination platoon leader. He also served as the first CBRNE Response Team Leader following the activation of the 110th Chemical Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McCord. COL Harwell is a graduate of Indiana University and attended the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies with a follow-on utilization tour as the Deputy Director of Plans for Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
At the end of the event, the crowd stood and joined in signing the Chemical Corps Song and the Army Song. Command Sergeant Major Mauvet Rawls then led the color guard off the parade field, signifying the end of the ceremony.
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