WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. (August 6, 2024) Army Test and Evaluation Commander Maj. Gen. Patrick L. Gaydon held an unfurling ceremony on August 5, at White Sands Missile Range Headquarters to officially announce George C. Turner’s promotion from Colonel to Brigadier General. WSMR leadership, Joint Service Military, civilians and off post partners gathered on the WSMR Headquarters grounds as his promotion was announced to the community.
The master of ceremonies, WSMR Executive Officer Joshua T. Fosher, provided opening remarks to start the ceremony, WSMR Chaplain Herbert A. Lemke provided the invocation, and the national anthem was sung by Sammy Hubbard.
“It is my distinct pleasure to host this ceremony where we officially unfurl the Brigadier General flag for George Turner. The Army promoted George back on July 4, and he patiently waited to have a ceremony two Saturdays ago with family and friends in Georgia. George is all about the mission and not brining attention to himself. I know he would rather just get to work and not have any fanfare, but I think it is only appropriate that we do this ceremony not only for George but for White Sands Missile Range and the community. It really is a big deal to have a General Officer in command here with all the authorities that come with that rank,” said Gaydon. “When an Army Officer is promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, they are presented with a flag that depicts the rank. The flag is used to announce their presence to subordinates, peers, and superiors alike. There is over a hundred-year history associated with these flags that go back to the late 1800’s. By unfurling WSMR Brigadier General Turner’s flag, we have formally introduced him as a General Officer to the community. I cannot overstate the importance of having a one-star general in command at White Sands Missile Range. It is our largest test range in the Department of Defense; it’s a national treasure and crucial to our national security. Testing conducted here pushes modern advancements on equipment and weapons that land in Soldiers’ hands to maintain the Army’s war-fighting advantage to fight and win our nation’s wars. Leaders like George make this happen.”
“Patrick Gaydon and White Sands Missile Range, thank you for this great honor. America’s first Brigadier General was pinned in 1780 and I am privileged to carry out this tradition for 244 years. With this new mission and with this new rank I pledge that I will do my best to execute mission command with competence, mutual trust, shared understanding, commander’s intent, mission orders, discipline initiative, and risk acceptance. With this new rank I pledge that humility will be my touchstone. With this new rank I pledge to never forget the Soldier’s Creed,” said Turner. “Team White Sands Missile Range, our future is filled with unlimited potential. There is much work to do. Let’s go forth and do great things. Truth in testing. Be all you can be.”
The ceremony ended with the Fort Bliss 1st Armored Division Band playing the Army song followed by a reception in the Headquarters foyer.
Turner is WSMR’s 38th Commander and Deputy Commander for Developmental Testing of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command. He has led developmental testing and evaluation efforts at echelon to enable modernization and innovation priorities for Army 2030 and Army 2040.
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