RED RIVER ARMY DEPOT, Texas (Sept. 6, 2012) -- Gen. Dennis L. Via, new commanding general of the Army Materiel Command, caught a snapshot of the massive maintenance facilities at Red River Army Depot during a visit Sept. 6.
Via began the day meeting with all Red River office directors and chiefs during an in-brief.
"It's great to be here today," said Via. "I've always heard positive things about Red River and the great work that is done here. You have a tremendous reputation."
Following the command video, RRAD Commander Col. Doyle Lassitter spoke highly of the leadership and employees of the depot.
"The individuals around you today represent the best of the best," said Lassitter. "Many of them have at least 25 years of experience supporting the Soldier. We have a great workforce and tremendous flexibility within the workforce."
Also visiting the depot was Michael Viggato, deputy commander for TACOM Life Cycle Management Command.
TACOM unites all of the organizations that focus on the Soldier and ground systems throughout the entire life cycle. According to Viggato, TACOM is responsible for maintaining 22 major systems for the Army.
Following the in-brief, Via began his tour of the depot with a flyover of Red River's 14,000 acre maintenance facility.
Via later toured the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle and Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle maintenance facilities. As he walked the production lines he stopped to shake the hands of employees as well as take a closer look at the work being performed.
"I appreciate what you're doing to support our Soldiers," said Via, as he toured the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle mixed model line. "Please keep up the great work."
Through the depot's complete commitment to Lean manufacturing, the HMMWV production line has experienced a drastic change going from three vehicles per week to a mixed-model production line capable of producing up to 40 vehicles per day.
Via continued his tour of Red River's maintenance area visiting Rubber Products, the only Department of Defense facility capable of remanufacturing road wheels and track.
"This facility (Rubber Products) is a foot stomper," he said. "It's a foot stomper because we live in a joint world where we support all the services. It's truly unique to AMC and a major part to the great work you all are doing here."
The Rubber Products facility is not only unique in its capability but it is filled with willing employees.
"The employees in this division have worked seven days a week to get the job done," said Russell Vogeltanz, chief of Rubber Products, as he spoke to Via during the tour. "These great individuals came to work on Christmas Eve. They will truly do whatever it takes to make sure our Soldiers have what they need."
Via became the first four-star signal officer during a promotion ceremony Aug. 7. Later in the day, he took command of AMC as the 18th commanding general.
AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.
RRAD is designated by the Secretary of the Army as the Center for Industrial and Technical Excellence for Tactical Wheeled Vehicles, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Small Emplacement Excavator, the Multiple Launch Rocket System, Rough Terrain Forklifts and a multitude of secondary items.
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