FORT MONMOUTH, N.J. -- George E. Fitzmaier took charge as the Fort Monmouth Garrison manager in a Transfer of Authority ceremony on Greely Field on Oct 21. Col. Stephen M. Christian relinquished command during the ceremony, marching into history as the final Fort Monmouth Garrison commander.
The ceremony was host by Russell Hall, Installation Management Command's (IMCOM) Northeast Region director. In a bow to history, former U.S. Army Fort Monmouth Garrison Commanders Col. (Ret.) Ricki Sullivan (2004 to 2007) and Col. Anthony Reyes (2001 to 2004) were among the attendees.
As Garrison manager, Fitzmaier (who had been deputy to the commander since January 2003) will oversee Garrison operations, programs and services as well as the closure of the fort over the next two years.
"I promise to support our Fort Monmouth community, including family members and retirees, with the very best possible services for as long as Fort Monmouth remains open," Fitzmaier said in his remarks concluding the ceremony.
He paid homage to the history and tradition of Fort Monmouth and to previous Garrison commanders, including Christian, for their contributions during the fort's 92-plus years of service to the Army and the nation.
"I pledge to continue to maintain enormous pride in our Garrison mission, to continue to care for our people...[and] to support all of them with every means possible as they plan for their personal and professional futures," Fitzmaier said.
In his previous role as deputy, Fitzmaier was the principal civilian advisor to the Garrison commander on all matters relating to management and base operations, leading the Garrison team of directors and office chiefs who provide base operations services for the Fort Monmouth community.
Before holding that position, he served as the Garrison chief of staff, directing the transition of the Garrison organization into IMCOM.
Fitzmaier was previously the deputy director and chief of Planning and Environment for the Garrison Directorate of Public Works (DPW) from October 1995 to December 2002--managing facilities, housing, and public works services for all installation activities and DPW business areas responsible for facilities engineering design and construction, operations and maintenance, housing, environment and real property master planning.
He began his career in government service here 1979 as a civil engineer intern in the Garrison DPW. Fitzmaier's awards include AMC 's Directorate of Public Works - Engineering Plans and Services Executive of the Year (winner in 1994 and runner-up in 1991) and the Commander's Award for Civilian Service.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Clarkson College of Technology (now Clarkson University). He also holds a Master of Science degree in Management from Florida Institute of Technology.
Today, just two days after the Transfer of Authority ceremony, Christian retires after a military service career of more than 31 years.
Among his most important achievements, he cited "having the opportunity to lead Soldiers in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and serving as Garrison commander here at Fort Monmouth during some very challenging and uncertain times."
Christian, who had been the Garrison commander since June 2007, was a Congressional legislative liaison for the Secretary of the Army in Washington, D.C., and then attended the National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., before coming here.
A native of Las Vegas, Nev., he has previously served as the deputy U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's system manager for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense Program, formerly known as the National Missile Defense Program.
Christian also served as the commander of the 1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment for three years and as battalion commander and deputy director of Operations, Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from February 2004 to February 2005.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Psychology from Park University, Mo.; a Master of Science degree in Administration from Central Michigan University; and a Master of Science degree in Security Strategy from the National War College, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Va.
Christian, enlisted in the Army in 1978, attended Officer Candidate School in 1984 and was commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery officer. After his retirement, he plans to move back to his home state of Nevada.
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