FORT SILL, Okla. -- Col. Daniel Karbler succeeded Col. Matt Merrick as the new chief of staff of Fort Sill and the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence Aug. 18 during a reveille ceremony here.
Brig. Gen. Ross Ridge, commandant of the U.S. Army Field Artillery School and chief of FA, officiated the ceremony and spoke of the significance inherent in the transition of leadership and responsibility.
"The importance of this ceremony and welcoming a new chief of staff cannot be understated, because the Fires center is a very busy place," he said.
Ridge cited key leader meetings at other posts and here that are addressing field artillery's and air defense artillery's roles in the current fight and the future of these missions. He mentioned 8,200 Soldiers training here either in basic combat training or FA or ADA training at the school house and units out training on the post's ranges.
"You have to have a chief of staff who can synchronize and choreograph that routine not just for the center but for the post," said Ridge. "In Dan Karbler, the Fires Center of Excellence has the right person."
He praised Karbler for his wide range of capabilities and skills. The general said Karbler will continue to serve Fort Sill well as he orchestrates and arranges the staff, keeps the commanders informed and advises the commanding general on day to day operations.
Karbler said he and his wife, Leah, have grown to love Lawton, Fort Sill and the people who live and are stationed here. He said the great friends they have made over the last two years added to the excitement of taking this job.
"I am humbled and honored to be selected the chief of staff for the Fires Center of Excellence. The post has gained great momentum over the past year, and my task is to continue that momentum and always strive for the excellence found in the title Fires Center of Excellence," he said.
He thanked Maj. Gen. David Halverson, FCoE and Fort Sill commanding general, for his confidence and pledged his commitment to work hard in his new role. He added he looks forward to working with the commandants, commanders and staff to build on the Team Sill/Oklahoma Pride ethos. Karbler then reached out to local and area leaders and said, "To the Lawton community partners, I look forward to strengthening the partnerships that have risen between the local community and the post."
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