Photo By Natasia Kenosky | The incoming commander, Lt. Col. Dennis Williams, provides welcome remarks during the...... read more read more
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Keeping with Army tradition, Letterkenny Munitions Center welcomed a new commanding officer during an official Change of Command Ceremony, held at the U.S. Army Reserve Center, Letterkenny Army Depot on June 6.
Lt. Col. Dennis K. Williams II replaced Lt. Col. Jeffrey J. Ignatowski, who relinquished command at LEMC after two years as the senior leader.
"(There are) three things that make this organization, arguably, the best… the trinity of the Strategic Support Area…” said Ignatowski in his farewell remarks. “ First, community, which is made up of the most patriotic people I’ve ever met. Second… is the workforce. Last leg of that trinity is family.”
For his next assignment, Ignatowski was selected to be part of the Department of the Army's Logistics Initiative Group staff at the Pentagon, Washington, DC.
Col. Michael Garlington, Crane Army Ammunition Activity commander, served as the official host, and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Morrison, Joint Munitions Command, Rock Island, Illinois, served as the senior enlisted officer in charge of the color guard.
Garlington noted the fine work by Ignatowski and recognized Ignatowski's efforts in modernization and extending the operational reach of LEMC’s core competencies. He noted Ignatowski “was the first Army Materiel Command Munitions Commander to reach out and establish discernable value to the Army Futures Command’s Cross Functional Teams”.
During Ignatowski’s command, LEMC executed six worldwide ammunition rehearsal of concept drills, implemented a tier meeting process that accelerated work flow and communication, and multiplied employee suggestion implementation program participation. Notably, under Ignatowski’s leadership, LEMC achieved a “Class A” rating for Sales and Operations Planning, as well as ISO 9001:2015 quality certification.
“To the LEMC team, it is an honor to join your ranks," said Williams in his welcoming remarks. “I am truly impressed with your professionalism and the dedication of this great organization ensuring that the Warfighter has what they need, when they need it. I look forward to working with LEMC partners, local leaders, and the leadership at Letterkenny Army Depot.”
Prior to his new assignment, Williams spent the previous ten months as the Director, Virtual Experimentation Team in the U.S. Army Futures Command Sustainment Battle Lab, Fort Lee, Virginia. Williams is a native of Grants Pass, Oregon. He enlisted in the Army in 1991 as a 63B Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. He was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in 2001 and is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in History and a graduate degree in Management. His military education includes the Command and General Staff College Intermediate Level Course, Captains Operations Course, Officer Basic Course, and Officer Candidate School.
Distinguished guests in attendance included Peter Witmer, Deputy Director, Pennsylvania Military Community Enhancement Commission; Larissa Bailey, Regional Manager, Sen. Patrick Toomey’s office; Libby Callaway, Senior Legislative Assistant Congressman John Joyce’s office; Chad Reichard, District Legislative Representative Congressman John Joyce’s office; Josh Peters, Constituent Outreach Specialist, Pennsylvania State Rep. Paul Schemel’s office; Doug Mastriano, Pennsylvania State Senator Elect; Robert Thomas, Franklin County Commissioner; Michael Ross, President, Franklin County Area Development Corporation; Col. Darrell Aubrey, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Col. Stephen Ledbetter, Letterkenny Army Depot; as well as family members, friends and LEMC/LEAD staff.
The ceremony featured a color guard provided by Letterkenny Army Depot, an invocation by Chaplain Maj. Charles Scott, Joint Munitions Command, and the playing of the "Army Song”. Guests were invited to greet the Williams and Ignatowski families immediately following the conclusion of the event.
Letterkenny Munitions Center was established on October 1, 1999, by realigning the Letterkenny Army Depot’s Directorate of Ammunition Operations under the command and control of Crane Army Ammunition Activity. Ammunition activities first began at Letterkenny on September 23, 1942 with the first receipt of ammunition, which took place nine months after the orders establishing Letterkenny were signed. Both LEMC and CAAA are subordinate installations of Joint Munitions Command. JMC manages ammunition manufacturing plants and storage depots that provide ammunition to all military services, other federal agencies, as well as to allied nations.
LEMC is located on Letterkenny Army Depot and is a Government-Owned, Government-Operated installation. LEMC conducts regional and global distribution of munitions, provides missile maintenance, and conducts demilitarization of munitions for Joint Forces and international partner nations.
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2019 15:59 |
| Story ID: | 325838 |
| Location: | CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 218 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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