FORT BENNING, Ga. (Aug. 3, 2018) – The Maneuver Center of Excellence held a change of responsibility for the U.S. Army Infantry School Aug. 3 at the Benning Club at Fort Benning, Georgia.
The MCoE welcomed the Brig. Gen. David M. Hodne as the new Infantry School commandant.
Col. Townley R. Hedrick, who was the commandant of the Infantry School, is staying on as the deputy commandant.
Hodne’s career has spanned 27 years and has included deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman. He has served with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington, and Fort Benning. Most recently he served as the commander of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th ID, at Fort Carson, Colorado, the executive officer to the commander for U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, and as deputy commanding general (maneuver) for 4th ID at Fort Carson and for Operation Atlantic Resolve in Germany.
Maj. Gen. Gary M. Brito, MCoE and Fort Benning commander, presided over the ceremony. He cited Hodne’s years of experience in special operations, light Infantry and Stryker units as an asset to the MCoE.
“I am 100 percent confident that your experiences in a multitude of formations are exactly the right level of expertise we need at the right time and are a great fit for the componency and more importantly at the Maneuver Center,” said Brito.
During the ceremony, Hodne talked about the mission of training and modernizing the Army.
“The Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning is incredibly important to the success of our Army,” said Hodne. “Not only with respect to hosting the professional branch and skills training, but also for its role and investment in modernizing our Army.
“Having first entered Fort Benning 30 years ago, I remain incredibly proud to proclaim that I in every respect am a proud product of the Infantry School,” continued Hodne. “While I trained here decades ago with the Infantry of yesterday, the Infantry of today – those expected to engage in close combat – find themselves on an increasingly lethal and hyperactive battlefield. It remains our sacred duty here at the Infantry School to ensure our Infantry Soldiers are not only prepared but that they are increasingly lethal.”
In addition to his role as the Infantry School commandant, Hodne will also serve as the director of the Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team.
Hodne takes on the responsibility of commandant from Hedrick, who served as commandant since May, when the previous commandant, Brig. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, relinquished responsibility. Donahue currently serves as the deputy director for Special Operations and Counter-Terrorism for the Joint Staff.
Brito thanked Hedrick for serving as commandant and expressed gratitude Hedrick was staying at Fort Benning.
“I appreciate your calm and steady leadership,” said Brito. “Your personal commitment and your genuine care for Soldier and leader development was evident to me every day."
The U.S. Army Infantry School provides trained, adaptive and ready Infantry Soldiers and leaders for an Army at war while developing future requirements for the individual Soldier and the maneuver force. They also provide world-class quality of life for Infantry Soldiers and their Families.
For the electronic press kit from Fort Benning TV, visit https://vimeo.com/283098336 .
Date Taken: | 08.03.2018 |
Date Posted: | 08.03.2018 17:17 |
Story ID: | 287206 |
Location: | FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, US |
Web Views: | 388 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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