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    First Army Leaders Join Rock Island Arsenal's JMTC Leadership for their Change of Command Ceremony, Welcoming the First Female and African-American Commander of JMTC

    First Army Leaders Join Rock Island Arsenal's JMTC Leadership for their Change of Command Ceremony

    Photo By Sgt. Tyler Morford | First Army leaders including First Army Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Antonio A. Aguto...... read more read more

    ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES

    07.15.2021

    Story by Spc. Tyler Morford 

    First Army

    First Army leaders including First Army Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Antonio A. Aguto Jr., and First Army Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. John P. McDwyer, joined Rock Island Arsenal’s Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) leadership to celebrate the service of JMTC’s outgoing commander, Col. Martin J. Hendrix III, and to welcome JMTC’s incoming commander, who will be the first female and African-American JMTC Commander, Col. Shari R. Bennett, at Rock Island Arsenal’s Lock and Dam Lounge, Rock Island, Ill., on July 15, 2021.

    After the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner, sung by Susan Somes, a JMTC machinist who works on the island, the Commanding General of U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, Maj. Gen. Darren L. Werner, spoke about Col. Hendrix’s service, which began at JMTC when Col. Hendrix took command in May, 2015, and implemented a five year plan which oversaw one of the largest re-organizations of the company; Maj. Gen. Werner also commented on how this was achieved through a pandemic, while caring for the workforce.

    Maj. Gen. Werner welcomed the new JMTC incoming commander, Col. Shari R. Bennett, “I’m confident that you are going to move the team forward and build on its legacy.” The 50th commander of JMTC, Col. Hendrix, thanked his family and the attendees after noting the increase in production yield and decrease in deficiencies of the organization; Col. Hendrix lastly mentioned President Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech and how that inspired him.

    After the presentation of the Rock Island Arsenal colors, the 51st Commander of JMTC, Col. Bennett, thanked her family and mentioned the support and embracement of the Rock Island community. Col. Bennett’s service includes deployments to Kosovo in 1999 supporting Kosovo Force, and Iraq in 2003, 2004, and 2009 for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 07.15.2021
    Date Posted: 07.27.2021 09:44
    Story ID: 400991
    Location: ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, ILLINOIS, US

    Web Views: 120
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN