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REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – Col. Thomas Melton assumed command of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization during a July 11, 2025, change of command ceremony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Brig. Gen. Allen Pepper, commanding general of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, hosted the event.
Pepper transferred the SATMO colors from Outgoing Commander Col. Gregory Holmes to Melton during the ceremony. The passing of the colors is a time-honored military tradition that symbolizes the passing of responsibility and authority from an outgoing commander to the unit’s new commander.
Pepper highlighted SATMO’s unique capabilities and significant impact across all six Geographic Combatant Command areas of responsibility, noting it employs dozens of teams in over a dozen countries and has a case value in excess of one billion dollars.
“These small teams are responsible for ensuring our partner nations are fully trained on the capabilities they have acquired from the U.S., adding to the interoperability with and readiness of the combined force,” said Pepper. “The global reach of these teams also demonstrates the value of our enduring presence as we work overtime to develop partner capacity. We don’t see the demand for USASATMO teams slowing down in the coming years.”
To Holmes, he said, “I want to personally thank you for serving as the SATMO commander and leading this organization during a critical period in our Security Assistance Enterprise history. I could not have asked for a better performance from an exceptionally talented officer. Since September 2023, you did more than maintain the momentum of this organization, you pushed the boundaries and bolstered the reputation of SATMO as a premier training enabler for our allies and partners.”
Holmes called the SATMO team a collection of professionals and their mission irreplaceable.
“We’ve seen so much change, even during my short tenure here, in terms of FMS and Security Assistance reforms, tectonic swings in Joint Force and Army structure. What’s not changing is what SATMO has done now for more than 50 years,” said Holmes.
“The Army Security Assistance Enterprise does an incredible job with technology transfer, materiel and support to our allies and partners around the world but SATMO, you deliver that knowledge piece, how to turn that piece of equipment into an effective capability, and how to establish or improve an institution that enables our international partners to ultimately support (U.S.) national security objectives,” he said. “Sometimes it’s hard to see the impact you’re having. Changes are slow, incremental, but our allies and partners are stronger, closer and more committed because of what you do.”
Holmes also thanked Pepper for his continued support, “giving me the latitude to lead SATMO and trusting in my approach.”
Melton said he is looking forward to leading SATMO and joining the USASAC team.
“I’ll strive to uphold its motto, Strength in Cooperation, in all that I do,” he said. “Our mission to bring institutional training to our allies and partners around the globe has arguably never been more important and critical than it is today. I look forward to learning from you and working side by side as we continue to deliver world class security assistance training and enhanced partner lethality and readiness that will result in victory on tomorrow’s battlefields.”
SATMO is a subordinate organization to USASAC and deploys U.S.-based teams to execute security assistance missions outside the continental United States. SATMO has successfully deployed training and advisory teams to every geographic combatant command, hence the motto "Training the World, One Soldier at a Time." Their mission is vital to achieving U.S. national security objectives and stability in key locations throughout the world.
To view the ceremony online, visit the USASAC Facebook page.
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