Courtesy Photo | Brig. Gen. Kevin A. Leonard, commander, 1st Corps Support Command, addresses hundred...... read more read more
By Capt. Sonise Lumbaca, 1st COSCOM Public Affairs Officer
FORT BRAGG, N.C. " "Master of distribution" and 'the premier combat logistician" is what Maj. Gen. Virgil L. Packett II, the acting commander for the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, called Brig. Gen. Yves J. Fontaine during the 1st Corps Support Command change of command ceremony, Dec. 16 at Fort Bragg's Seay Field.
Fontaine, who commanded the 1st COSCOM for more than two years, relinquished the command to Brig. Gen. Kevin A. Leonard.
A native of Belgium, Fontaine served as the chief of staff of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command from 2001 until 2003 before taking command of the 1st COSCOM.
Leonard served as the deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Field Support Command at Fort Belvoir, Va. As the DCG, Leonard deployed in support of OIF and served as the commanding general of the Army Materiel Command Forward-Southwest Asia/C-4 in Kuwait; the same time Fontaine deployed with his troops to Iraq.
Both officers worked 'side by side" thousands of miles apart from each other in support of OIF.
"Kevin was in Kuwait lining up and getting these supplies ready so Yves could push them forward," Packett said. "These guys have been working together for a long time."
"You did a tremendous job supporting us [in Iraq] as the AMC commander," Fontaine said as he addressed Leonard during his speech.
While in Iraq, the 1st COSCOM provided logistical support to the Multinational Corps-Iraq, which included combat logistics patrols pushing the mail, water, fuel and food needed to sustain the momentum of U.S. and Coalition Forces across Iraq and Kuwait.
Additionally, the 1st COSCOM partnered with Iraqi forces to facilitate the development of the Iraqi army's logistics system.
Since taking command in July 2003, Fontaine has deployed troops to various countries in the Middle East in support of the war on terrorism. Additionally, the COSCOM continues to conduct peacekeeping mission in Sinai, Egypt.
Aside from combat and peacekeeping operations, Fontaine also deployed troops to Louisiana in support of the Hurricane Katrina relief.
"It was an incredible two and a half years. You are magnificent," Fontaine said as he lauded the hundreds of COSCOM troops that stood on the parade field before him.
Following his tenure with the 1st COSCOM, Fontaine will become the deputy chief of staff, G-4 for U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany.
"It is an extremely humbling experience and a proved positive that divine intervention is alive and well," Leonard said referencing taking command of the 1st COSCOM. "[The COSCOM has] set a new standard for logistical support. It is indeed an honor and privilege to join this great team and follow the Fontaines in command for the second time in the last five years."
In similar career paths both Fontaine and Leonard served as deputy chief of staff of logistics for the United States Army Special Operations Command, and both were commanders of the Special Operations Support Command at Fort Bragg.
In drawing near the end of his speech, Leonard did answer the question that many Soldiers tend to have on their minds when receiving a new commander.
"What will change as the COSCOM gains a new leader," he said. "To be certain, we face many challenges in the days ahead and I can't say right now whether we will "run the ball" or "go for a deep pass". But, I can tell you this; the end result will be the same. This team of winnersâ?¦ logistic warriors, will continue to provide the best support possible to American Soldiers anytime, anywhere, any place," he added.
Leonard will be the last commander for the 1st COSCOM under its current name as the command will soon transition into the 1st Theater Sustainment Command.
| Date Taken: | 12.17.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 12.17.2005 17:20 |
| Story ID: | 4119 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 285 |
| Downloads: | 17 |
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