ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - “It’s been a fast and furious 32 months,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Tyrone Johnson, outgoing CECOM command sergeant major, describing his tenure at CECOM during its transition to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
“Take care of the workforce,” said Johnson who is now slated to transition from CECOM to the U.S. Army Capabilities Integration Center at Fort Monroe, Va., June 30. “Those were the orders I was given upon my arrival, and that’s what I focused on during my time here.”
Former CECOM commander, Lt. Gen. Dennis L. Via, now deputy commanding general for the Army Materiel Command, and other CECOM leaders anticipated and prepared for the changes CECOM would face as the workforce moved their mission, and lives, south. The command remained sensitive to the hearts and minds of the workforce.
“When Maj. Gen. Randolph P. Strong took over [CECOM], he continued to do the same, take care of the workforce,” said Johnson.
Taking their lead, Johnson conducted split-based operations working between APG and Fort Monmouth. Whether to provide guidance, support or measure the effectiveness of the forward presence, Johnson describes his role as being the conduit for support and aid to the former command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, C4ISR, Forward Command Group.
“Col. [Augustus] Owens, Master Sgt. [Walter] Farrell and Karen Quinn-Doggett did a phenomenal job with coordinating with APG Garrison and being our eyes and ears on the ground at APG in the early stages of the BRAC [2005 Base Realignment and Closure] implementation,” said Johnson.
Johnson spent much of his time reaching out to the warfighter and raising the awareness of CECOM’s services available to battalions and brigades all over the world.
“One of my biggest objectives was to go out and talk directly to the warfighter,” said Johnson. “I visited as many CECOM sites as possible. Our folks are doing a great job out there and it was my job to identify what we as a command could do even better to support the warfighter, as well as our workforce.”
During his tenure, with guidance from his Commander, Johnson initiated a Wounded Warrior employment focus at CECOM during the early stages of the move.
“In preparation for the command’s relocation, we were hiring at rapid numbers to reconstitute the workforce,” said Johnson. “So my first thought was, ‘let’s employ wounded warriors’,” said Johnson. Two years ago, Johnson led the effort for CECOM’s participation in a job fair at Walter Reed Medical Center for the sole benefit of wounded service members in search of new careers as they transition from military service.
Johnson’s passion for taking care of our nation’s wounded warriors led him to work with CECOM personnel and the Wounded Warrior Program representatives to identify avenues to offer employment through the program.
“We had always hired veterans, but this was the first time we were able to utilize the Wounded Warrior Program as the hiring vehicle to bring them onboard,” explained Johnson. “Everyone has been really receptive to supporting this program. This year, we made our first job offer as a result of this effort. He accepted. That is a mission success,” said Johnson with a smile.
In 2009, the Year of the Noncommissioned Officer, Johnson encouraged enlisted personnel to go out into the communities to help tell the NCO story.
“For me, the success was in the community’s response to us. I received a lot of positive feedback from the community indicating they appreciated our presence and they even invited us back year after year,” said Johnson.
Johnson hosted a Senior Enlisted Conference where Soldiers representing commands such as AMC, Signal Command and the Acquisition Command, worked to identify new ways to collaborate and learn more about CECOM’s services.
“They know who we are, and that is our aim…to spread the word about CECOM’s services.” said Johnson. He traveled to a variety of sites across the nation, and even to overseas locations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Germany to visit Soldiers and observe CECOM operations being implemented in theater. “We have a large mission in the Iraq Drawdown effort to plan and execute the logistical efforts necessary to recover communications equipment downrange back to the [United] States.”
Johnson commended the Soldier-Civilian hybrid workforce for demonstrating the ultimate meaning of teamwork and collaborative effort.
“Here and in the field, I have witnessed our partnership efforts in practice,” he said. “CECOM and C4ISR personnel have truly put the mission first during a time when they are faced with life altering career decisions. This workforce is top-notch and they continue to put the warfighter’s needs first.”
In leadership tough decisions must be made, said Johnson. “Know your commander’s intent. Realize that, as a leader, the decisions you make just don’t affect you, but the organization, its people and their families. Support initiatives that are ethically, morally and legally sound.”
As Johnson transitions, he encourages Soldiers and civilians alike to continue to seek challenging assignments, self-development opportunities, and follow the Army values.
“Celeste [Johnson, his wife] and I would like to bid a very fond farewell to both the Fort Monmouth and the APG community,” said Johnson. “Our bodies and minds will be in Virginia, but our heart will always be with the CECOM family.”
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