DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich. – Brig. Gen. Beth A. Behn highlighted strategic objectives and her commitment to transparency during an Aug. 18 town hall meeting with members of the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command.
She encouraged the team to build on successes while adapting with urgency.
“I’m not telling you anything you don’t know when I say this is a time of tremendous change. We’re all part of it,” she said.
“There’s a strong sense of needing to rethink the way we do things, look at doing things differently, optimizing our processes. Being part of that next chapter of TACOM’s history is really my focus.”
Speaking in a packed auditorium at the Detroit Arsenal, Behn highlighted how TACOM is evolving alongside the broader Army as it transforms into a more lethal and competitive force. It was her first town hall since becoming commanding general in July.
Behn said TACOM is in a period of “continuous change.” The command’s key priorities remain the same, she said, but include a heightened emphasis on urgency, stability and transparency.
“As soon as we’ve got information about change, new ways of doing things, we need to be as absolutely transparent as we can and share and power that information down,” she said. “’Share until it hurts’ is kind of the charge that I gave to leaders.”
Behn asked the workforce to continue innovating as TACOM becomes more effective and efficient.
“Thanks for what you’re already doing to think differently, to relook processes, to think about optimizing the way that we do things to increase lethality (and) make every nickel and penny count toward that end,” she said.
The town hall included updates on several key initiatives. Behn said an Army Organic Industrial Base optimization plan that could have resulted in the closure of three sites, including TACOM’s Red River Army Depot, is now on pause pending a holistic review of all 23 OIB sites.
She said TACOM continues to lead the Army in advanced manufacturing.
“We are going to be leaned on very heavily to rapidly determine how we can leap ahead in our advanced manufacturing efforts” and leverage technology to tackle long-standing challenges and deliver readiness to the warfighter, Behn said.
Deputy to the Commander Brian Butler addressed recent and ongoing workforce optimization efforts. Praising the work of TACOM’s G1 and G8 directorates, he said the command largely met its manpower targets through a deferred resignation program, vacancy harvesting and other measures.
“There is absolutely no appetite for a RIF (reduction in force) in FY ‘26 for us,” he said.
The town hall also featured awards presentations and a recap of good news stories from across the command. CW5 Maxine Williams highlighted a collaborative effort that enabled network connectivity to a 3D printer in the Metal Working Machine Shop Set.
During a question-and-answer session, Behn touched on leadership and workplace culture. She said she appreciated the leaders early in her career who empowered her but also underwrote honest mistakes.
“I try to pay that forward in the way I lead,” she said.
Throughout the event, Behn wove bits of humor into her remarks. When talking about her background, she noted that her two favorite sports teams are the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Cubs.
“Lifetime of pain with those two teams, I’ll tell ya,” she said, sparking laughter. “If you want to know if you have a resilient leader, yes, you do, because I’m a Cubs and Vikings fan, and it hasn’t always been sunshine and puppy dogs.”
Behn said she values a culture of innovation, urgency and recognition for great work in a command that is vital to Army readiness.
“What type of culture do we want to have around here?” she said. “One where people feel good about the work that they do, the people that they work with, and the place that they come to work.”
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