TACOM town hall celebrates accomplishments, focuses on future

Maj. Gen. Michael B. Lalor highlighted accomplishments, shared news and outlined priorities for the coming year during the Dec. 18 U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) town hall.

“We are leading the Army forward in a lot of different areas now, and we’re going to continue that momentum,” Lalor said. “That’s what we’re going to do in 2025.

“We’re going to continue to produce at scale with velocity. We’re going to continue to train a great workforce and upskill it. We’re going to continue to bring talent to the organization, and we’re going to continue to take shots where we think we can help the Army or the nation.”

The town hall kicked off with a recap of production across the command, from the large caliber cannon tubes and mortars being made at Watervliet Arsenal (WVA) to the advanced manufacturing efforts at Rock Island Arsenal-Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (RIA-JMTC).

“Every one of our sites has a lot to be proud of,” Lalor said.

TACOM has been – and will continue to be – at the forefront of innovation in advanced manufacturing and telemaintenance, Lalor stated. Just two weeks earlier, the command led a war game that brought together more than 100 senior Army leaders and subject matter experts for discussions on advanced manufacturing synergy and strategy.

TACOM’s increased public profile and robust workforce development efforts are also points of pride, Lalor said. The command hosted two large, successful hiring and career development events in 2024 at the Detroit Arsenal, with more planned for 2025.

Lalor gave a shout-out to TACOM’s flyway teams, saying nearly 70 teams are deployed on any given day in support of Soldiers around the world.

“Our core mission is production,” he said, “but we can extend what we do in the depots and arsenals beyond the physical boundaries of the depots and arsenals. That’s what we’re doing, and it’s having great effect across our Army.”

Other 2024 highlights from around TACOM included:

• Sierra Army Depot’s (SIAD) support of Hurricane Helene relief efforts with the contribution of 5,000 sets of cold weather gear and the on-site maintenance of a water purification system.
• A U.S. Indo-Pacific Command trip that involved senior leadership and focused on ensuring materiel readiness.
• The installation of tools for a new Apprentice Training Lab at WVA.
• TACOM’s participation in the Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition.
• The awarding of organizational safety awards to Anniston Army Depot (ANAD), Industrial Operations Safety Award; Red River Army Depot (RRAD), Exceptional Organization Safety Award - Brigade Level; TACOM FMX Fort Jackson, Exceptional Organization Safety Award - Battalion Level; and Deryl Gensler, TACOM FMX Fort Gregg-Adams, Individual Award of Excellence in Safety - DA Civilian Junior Category.
• TACOM’s development and launch of the Army’s Operational Readiness Program.

Looking ahead to 2025, workforce development and recruitment will remain a top priority.

“That workforce is the engine,” Lalor said, speaking to the audience watching the town hall in-person at the Detroit Arsenal and at other locations through an online livestream. “It’s all you who make this go.”

TACOM will continue to advance modernization and its workload in the coming year. One area of focus will be AS9100 certification at RIA-JMTC, Lalor said, which will give TACOM the ability to manufacture aviation-grade parts to help alleviate supply chain challenges and support the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM).

Lalor said he expects TACOM’s production focus on readiness and Ukraine-in-contact to continue, though it could evolve with the upcoming U.S. presidential transition.

He said he is looking forward to seeing supply chain precision, collaboration and output grow in 2025.

“We’ll be ready where the nation leads us over the next year,” he said.

The town hall included live cut-a-ways to employee award presentations at sites across the command. There were also remarks by Chaplain Lt. Col. Michael A. DeRienzo, Deputy Chief of Staff Human Capital Nichole Karanec and Chief of Staff Col. Lisa Rennard.

Lalor concluded with a brief question-and-answer session and a plea for people to keep safety in mind during their holiday celebrations.

“I can’t say enough how proud I am to serve with you all,” he said.