ARNORTH welcomes new deputy to the CG

By Staff Sgt. Keith Anderson, U.S. Army North PAOAugust 2, 2010

Oath.
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Guy Sands-Pingot is sworn in as a member of the Senior Executive Service as U.S. Army North welcomed its new deputy to the commanding general during a ceremony in the historic Quadrangle July 30. Sands, who is a brigadier ge... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Family.
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Lt. Gen. Guy Swan III, commanding general, U.S. Army North and Fort Sam Houston, presents a certificate to Guy Sands-Pingot after swearing him in as a member of the Senior Executive Service as U.S. Army North welcomed its ne... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Daddy.
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Guy Sands-Pingot, deputy to the commanding general, U.S. Army North, accompanied by his daughter, Maria, speaks with those in attendance after being sworn in as a member of the Senior Executive Service during a ceremony in t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - U.S. Army North welcomed its new deputy to the commanding general during a ceremony in the historic Quadrangle here July 30.

Guy Sands-Pingot, who is a brigadier general in the Army Reserve, was appointed as a member of the Senior Executive Service - the uppermost ranks of federal civil service.

He will support Lt. Gen. Guy Swan III, commanding general, Army North and Fort Sam Houston, and will serve as the command's senior civilian employee.

"I personally selected Mr. Sands to be our first civilian deputy to the commanding general because of the importance of this newly created position," Swan said, during the ceremony. "With half of our teammates in the command being government or contract civilians, we need a solid representative for these professionals in the command group."

Swan said Sands was a perfect fit for the unit.

"We've all heard the saying: 'The right man, at the right place, at the right time for the right position.' And for Guy Sands, this is especially true," Swan said. "He has a proven track record of success.

"He'll focus much of his time working support and sustainment activities in ARNORTH, and with many of you here at Fort Sam, and representing me as senior commander and helping to continue that smooth transition to a joint base."

Sands, who served most recently as the assistant inspector general for inspections and strategic planning within the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, told those in attendance that he was humbled by their service.

"When our homeland is in peril, and Americans ask: 'Whom will serve'' The response has been, without fail, from people such as those who I am humbled to see are present at this ceremony today," he said.

"I will serve to make our Army strong. I will serve to protect our nation and all that it means, and I will serve selflessly to do that which others cannot, or will not, do."

During an earlier visit to Army North in April, Sands said his job as the top civilian in the Army's service component command to the U.S. Northern Command is to support Swan.

"I think the key point is to assist the commanding general in fulfilling his vision for the organization because it's his vision that is going to propel the organization forward," Sands said.

He said he feels ARNORTH provides a vital service for the nation.

"The American people have to know that there is a silent partner who is always out there - watching for their security and to make sure that life goes on as we know it," Sands said. "The adjunct to the answer is that the American people have an expectation of safety and security, which underlies everything that we do, as a nation, and as a people.

"Without safety and security, our economy will fail and the normal measures of life that we expect to have - of home, Family and work - just will not go on as we know it. Army North has the vital role of being a focal point for homeland defense and, of course, of helping to integrate interagency participation and supporting it."

Sands has served for more than 30 years in the military - an experience, he said, that has taught him the importance of professional development and growing the force.

"Through my 30 years experience as a Soldier, culminating as a general officer, I've been able to work from the time of being a cadet all the way to general officer and in a variety of places, but the most important thing is how we interact with people and how we're able, as leaders, to make everybody a success," he said. "That's really the philosophical background I want to bring in. The mark of a leader is someone who can find people who do their best and make sure there's a matchup there."

He also brings with him insights into the civilian sector, an important qualification for an Army unit that provides defense support to civilian authorities.

"From my previous experience as a civilian in the private sector, I was fortunate enough to work for ... as a management auditor," Sands said.

He said the experience was invaluable because it provided him the opportunity to visit various areas throughout the United States and around the world, where he had the opportunity to perform program analysis of specific businesses, to see business practices and to help those businesses meet their needs and execute their missions.