Movement control battalion receives new commander

CURTIS BAY, Md. (April 24, 2010) - Soldiers and family members gathered to welcome the incoming commander of the 313th Movement Control Battalion at the 1st Sgt. Adam Brandt Army Reserve Center here Saturday. Lt. Col. Harlan T. Ware, outgoing commander of the 313th, will relinquish command responsibilities to Lt. Col. Mark D. Stimer, a former logistics planner and special projects officer with the 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Coraopolis, Pa. Ware, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pa., took command Sept. 14, 2008. He brought previous deployment and military experience to the battalion throughout his tenure. Throughout his more than 20 years of military service, he has served in a variety of military capacities to include company commander, aide de camp, assistant professor of military science, and battalion executive officer. Stimer, a graduate of Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, La., has 26 years of active-duty and reserve military service to include multiple deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. He is the recipient of many awards to include the Bronze Star Medal. "It feels great," said Stimer, a native of Fayette, Ind. "I've been looking forward to this for a long time ... since I was a lieutenant." Stimer served as a company commander for the 27th Cavalry, detachment commander for the 275th Movement Control Team and the company team chief of the 1st Embedded Training Team under the 10th Mountain Division. This is his first command position at the battalion level. "It's truly a humbling experience," Stimer said. "It will be even more humbling once we're in theater ... and we are the folks responsible for the safe movement across operational areas." The 313th oversees traffic management, movement of vehicles, vessels and planes, and synchronizes domestic and overseas equipment and personnel transportation. The unit reports to the 165th Quartermaster Group, Fort Belvoir, Va., which reports to the 316th. Stimer, who currently resides in Rye, Colo., hopes to provide leadership and management skills necessary to ensure the safety of his soldiers and the accomplishment of the missions of the battalion, the 165th and the 316th. The key, he said, is to always be a good listener and, in the absence of action, to take action. "I'd like folks to know that this battalion is to embark on the best operations in the Army," said Stimer.