White Sands Missile Range welcomed a new commander during a Change of Command ceremony as outgoing commander Brig. Gen. George C. Turner Jr. 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.
Brig. Gen. Turner, who is heading out to U.S. Army Pacific to work as the G-3/5/7 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.”
Col. Morgan emphasized the way forward in his remarks:
“Team WSMR will be called upon to be the proving ground for a new generation of warfare: one that crosses domains and disciplines and demands unprecedented ingenuity. WSMR is on the critical path to transform the Army and the Joint Force. We’re the site where the Nation’s boldest new ideas come to life—we are the first to test. We will rise to the legacy of this ground’s history and reaffirm this workforce’s vital role in securing our Nation’s place as a leading global power—White Sands Missile Range is America’s Range.”
White Sands Missile Range is the premier military test range in America, earning its title as “Birthplace of America’s Missile and Space Activity.” Comprised of 3,200 squares miles White Sands Missile Range supports the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as commercial and international users while conducting more than 3,000 tests annually.
Social Sharing