Letterkenny tradition of excellence lives on

By Ms Lindsay Washabaugh (AMC)May 26, 2011

Letterkenny Army Depot, Chambersburg, P.A" Former Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) Commander, Colonel Steven Shapiro, has been selected to the rank of Brigadier General. His next assignment will be as the United States Army in Europe (USAREUR) Operations Sustainment, G4-Logisitics.

In this capacity his mission will be to provide logistics plans, policies and procedures to meet theater Army needs in peace, crisis, stability operations and war. His role will be to advise the Commanding General, USAREUR and major subordinate commands.

Shapiro’s extensive military experiences have helped propel his successful career. Shapiro said he was grateful to the many employees at LEAD, during his Command that aided him understanding business operations.

“During my time at Letterkenny I was able to learn many aspects of how to manage a business with a large budget,” he said. “I’ll try to use that knowledge in United States Army Europe to do my best to help deliver needed logistics support at the best value.”

Upon graduating from the Army War College in Carlisle, PA with a Masters degree in Strategic Studies he assumed command at LEAD on August 10, 2007.

As the Commander, Shapiro oversaw a variety of milestones. The construction of the Theater Readiness Monitoring Facility (TRMF) was initiated and a few hours before his outgoing change of command he cut the ribbon to signify the opening of the facility. This made Letterkenny the Army's single point of access for missiles.

He accepted three Shingo awards for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) 2007, Power Generator Equipment 2007 and Biological Detection Shelters 2008 as well the Army Superior Unit Award from the Secretary of the Army for the Depot's work in 2007.

In addition, he witnessed the beginning construction of the Army Reserve Center.

During his two year service, employment numbers rose and workload increased. Equipment was constantly funneled through the Depot’s reset, recap and rebuild programs and sent back to the Warfighters.

Shapiro emphasized the value and importance of public-private partnerships for the Depot. Not only would the partnerships be mutually beneficial and cost effective, but they would also advantageously position LEAD against the next Base Realignment and Closure.

Shapiro completed his two year service as Depot Commander on September 25, 2009 and deployed to Kuwait shortly afterward. In this position he managed the retrograding of equipment coming out of the war.

Prior to assuming command at LEAD, Shapiro was the G3 for the 3rd Corps Support Command in Wiesbaden, Germany and Balad, Iraq. He has also served as Platoon Leader and Shop Officer in the 536th Engineer Battalion, Republic of Panama; as a logistics and personnel staff officer in the 46th Corps Support Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; as a logistics staff officer in the 29th Support Group, Germany; as a logistics officer in the 2nd Corps Materiel Management Center and 1st Corps Support Command Headquarters, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Shapiro also served in three command positions. At Fort Bragg he served as Company Commander of the 659th Maintenance Company. In Luxembourg he served as the Battalion Commander of the Combat Equipment Battalion " Luxembourg. Finally, in Kuwait he served as the Battalion Commander of the Combat Equipment Battalion " Arifjan during the initial deployment of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Shapiro’s awards and decorations include; The Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.

With an extensive military career, Shapiro and his family are not unfamiliar with the military lifestyle, which often requires picking up and moving. During his time of service, his wife, Mary, and two daughters have moved over 15 times. However, the Shapiro’s do not see this as inconvenience.

“Mary, the girls and I are thrilled to be able to continue serving our country,” he said. “We have had 26 great years in the Army and look forward to even more. We have been to Germany many times and lived many places, but Chambersburg remains our favorite location, love the people there.”