On the Army’s 249th birthday, Army Contracting Command welcomed its sixth commander and seventh senior enlisted adviser during a combined change of command and change of responsibility ceremony Friday on the Army Materiel Command parade field.
Maj. Gen. Douglas Lowrey assumed command from Brig. Gen. Christine Beeler and Command Sgt. Maj Julie Saorrono relinquished responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Rachel Harris. Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, acting commander of the Army Materiel Command, presided over the joint ceremony.
Lowrey began his career as a second lieutenant and infantry officer through the ROTC program at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, in 1994. His most recent assignment was the commander for the Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Lowrey is no stranger to ACC headquarters-serving in numerous positions to include executive officer and operations. His operational assignments include deployments in support of Operation New Dawn, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Unified Response and Operation Intrinsic Action.
Harris enlisted in the Army in 2000, serving in an array of leadership, administrative, logistics and acquisition assignments. She holds a bachelor’s in business administration (cum laude) and master’s in business administration with a concentration in human resources, both from Ashford University. Her operational assignments include numerous deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and mission support to various countries such as Cambodia, Jordan and Syria. Prior to her new leadership role, Harris served as the ACC headquarters operations sergeant major.
“As we gather here to celebrate the Army’s 249th birthday, we are reminded of the rich history and the unwavering commitment of our forces in protecting the freedom and security of our nation. It is with great honor and a profound sense of responsibility that I stand before you as the new command sergeant major of Army Contracting Command,” Harris said.
Since June 2021, Beeler led the ACC enterprise of more than 6,000 Soldiers and Army civilians in 100 locations worldwide. Under her leadership, the contracting organization averaged 140,000 contract actions with annual obligations exceeding $96 billion.
Mohan commended Beeler for leading the organization’s efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Operation Warp Speed.
“This command helped our government procure more than $90 billion worth of vaccines, therapeutics and essential medical supplies during the pandemic. When the nation needed an organization to manage the seemingly unmanageable, they called on ACC, and ACC delivered,” Mohan said.
Beeler’s next assignment will take her to Orlando, Florida, where she will serve as the program executive officer for simulation, training and instrumentation.
The change of responsibility also signified the retirement of Saorrono after a prestigious 30-year career in uniform. Her dedication to service will continue as she plans her next chapter as an Army civilian with ACC.
“Your reputation as a Soldier, a trainer and a leader are known across the Army, and you have perfectly complimented your commander. You epitomize the NCO creed which states ‘no one is more professional than I,’” Mohan said.
Lowrey cut his remarks short due to the sweltering Alabama heat but addressed the ACC enterprise that he was looking forward to his time in command, before signing off with, “Win! Win every day!”
The changing out of leadership concluded a week of events for the organization that included a senior leaders forum, a ball and a retirement ceremony in honor of Saorrono.
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