White Sands Missile Range welcomed a new commander during a Change of Command ceremony as outgoing commander Brig. Gen. George C. Turner relinquished command to Col. Andrew R. Morgan June 24 at the Organ Mountains Parade Field.
Army Test and Evaluation Command Commander Maj. Gen. Patrick L. Gaydon welcomed guests and employees to the ceremony.
“White Sands Missile Range is a national treasure, and it’s not just the airspace, it’s not just the land, it’s the people and the capabilities that are here,” Gaydon said. “Without this national treasure we would not be able to test some of the most sensitive and critical capabilities for the United States Army and for our joint force. Air and Missile Defense, Long Range Fires, High Energy Lazers, drones, counter drone capabilities, it all gets tested here by this great workforce.”
“Technology is moving fast, that is not going to change, we are going to have challenges all around the world, and I think business will be good for WSMR going forward, but we won’t be successful without great leaders and this great workforce that we have here,” Gaydon continued.
Before the change of command ceremony Gaydon presented Turner with a Legion of Merit.
Gaydon said Turner led a successful joint team that consisted of 39 tenant units across this installation.
“From the very beginning George Tuner worked to ensure that White Sands conducted timely and effective developmental testing and operational training.”
“George Tuner epitomized everything the Army sees in its leaders, calm leadership, and precision decisions. He cultivated a culture of mission accomplishment, treated people with dignity and respect, and truly cared for all the employees and family members here at White Sands Missile Range.”
“George thank you for your commitment and extraordinary leadership. You played an integral role in the success of White Sands Missile Range, ATEC and our Army and I have no doubt that you will carry the momentum forward in your next job.”
Of Drew Morgan he said his reputation precedes him.
“He’s an Army astronaut, a doctor, and a space operations officer,” Gaydon said. “He is a unique and talented leader who is eminently qualified for command and the right commander to replace George Turner.”
Turner, who is heading out to U.S. Army Pacific to work as the G3/5/7 also thanked all the visitors and employees.
“I am honored and privileged to have served as the 39th Commander of White Sands Missile Range and Deputy Commander for Developmental Testing for the Army Test and Evaluation Command,” Turner said. “Since taking command I have been surrounded by over 6,000 of the best people here at WSMR, over 4,000 of the best people across ATEC, and hundreds of thousands of the best people from Holloman Air Force Base, Fort Bliss, Las Cruces, El Paso and surrounding communities.”
Morgan also thanked all the visitors and his family for attending.
“General Gaydon thank you for this opportunity to command again. I am ready to tackle our mission to support Army transformation through developmental test and evaluation alongside our operational test partners,” Morgan said. “General Turner thank you for leaving a great team that I know is going to dearly miss you. Best of luck to you in the pacific I’ll be following your continued success. To the entire WSMR community I look forward to building on your great work and facing new challenges together as one team.”
Morgan, an Army Astronaut and Space Operations Officer, most recently served as Commander U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll and U.S. Army Garrison, Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Before commanding at Kwajalein Atoll, Morgan served as the Army NASA Detachment Commander and Senior Army Astronaut at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, NASA Detachment, Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He was a flight engineer and U.S. Segment Lead aboard the International Space Station during Expeditions 60, 61 and 62.
Social Sharing