ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – Maj. Gen. Patrick L. Gaydon assumed command of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, or ATEC, from Maj. Gen. James J. Gallivan, outgoing commander, during the dual change of command and retirement ceremony held at the ATEC Headquarters on 10 July.
The 39th Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Gen. James J. Mingus, gave opening remarks.
“Today’s ceremony isn’t just about a change of leadership. It’s also about recognizing the continuous effort and dedication that drive our Army forward,” Mingus said. “To the Soldiers and civilians here, you are the foundation of this command. Your hard work, dedication, and spirit are what keep us moving forward and adapting to new challenges.”
Mingus said ATEC’s relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation ensure Soldiers are equipped with the most advanced capabilities ready to face and dominate any threat. He also praised Gallivan for his remarkable career of service to the United States and to the Army.
“Jay is without question one of our Army’s best general officers,” Mingus said.
According to Mingus, Gallivan came from a lineage of men who served in the military. Gallivan’s grandfathers fought in World War II, father in Vietnam, and his stepfather was an Army engineer.
Mingus highlighted milestones throughout Gallivan’s career including his initial ROTC commission and various key leadership positions he previously held leading up to his culminating position as the ATEC commander.
“He is the consummate Soldier,” Mingus said. “He epitomizes the very best of qualities in a leader and a professional. He has earned the respect of supervisors, peers, subordinates, and others; not only here, but across the Army, the Pentagon, and the Department of Defense.”
Mingus thanked Gallivan for all he did for servicemembers during his 32 years of service and wished him well as he moves into retirement.
After bidding farewell to Gallivan, Mingus welcomed Gaydon to the ATEC team as the new commander.
According to Mingus, Gaydon is a leader who brings three decades of experience in command and staff positions showcasing an impressive array of skills.
“I had the pleasure of getting to know Pat well while serving on the joint staff together, and what impressed me the most was that he was always willing and ready to take on the toughest task,” Mingus said. “I knew without a doubt that he would go far in our Army, and he’s an incredibly smart and gifted leader.”
After Mingus concluded his remarks, Gallivan expressed his gratitude to a variety of individuals including his family, Army leaders, and the ATEC team.
“Our last posting here at ATEC has been the highlight of our service in many respects,” Gallivan said. “To be fortunate to command in one outfit for four years is rare. Such a privilege means you get to learn the outfit. You get to learn the people. You get to learn what levers there are to impact resources; care for and develop people; improve equipment and facility readiness; drive organizational readiness; bolster community resilience; and most of all, positively impact unit climate.”
Gallivan shared that he was most proud of ATEC’s focus on the user, which consists of the Soldier, the sergeants, and the company commander.
Following Gallivan, Gaydon expressed his excitement that Army senior leaders placed trust and confidence in him to take the mantle of command of ATEC.
“I recognize that people are the Army’s greatest strength,” Gaydon said. “They’re our asymmetric advantage against any adversary.” Gaydon went on to say that he could not be prouder to be an ATEC teammate.
“No doubt I have huge shoes to fill as Jay Gallivan led this team to great success,” said Gaydon. “I only hope that I can carry on that tradition of great leadership here at ATEC.”
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