Photo By Pam Goodhart | 250328-A-BS696-3181 CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Sgt. Maj. Troy Gearhart, incoming...... read more read more
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Letterkenny Army Depot welcomed a new senior enlisted leader during a change of responsibility March 28.
During a ceremony hosted by Col. Donald Santillo, depot commander, Sgt. Maj. Ekondua Amoke relinquished responsibility as the LEAD and installation sergeant major to Sgt. Maj. Troy Gearhart.
The change of responsibility is a traditional event that is rich with symbolism and heritage. The key to the ceremony is the passing of the noncommissioned officer sword between the outgoing and incoming sergeants major.
The custodian of the sword is the depot and installation sergeant major, who is the senior enlisted Soldier at the depot and the principal adviser to the commander.
“Today, we say farewell to SGM Amoke and recognize his accomplishments at LEAD over these last four years,” said Santillo. “And we welcome SGM Gearhart and his family to our Letterkenny family.”
Amoke assumed his duties as depot sergeant major in March 2021, and during his time, served under three depot commanders.
Some of his accomplishments, while at the depot, include:
• Championing systems and processes that improve safety, repair cycle time, cost, quality, and overall performance.
• Supporting LEAD readiness, resulting in the depot processing over 4,000 major end items including Patriot, Avenger, HIMARS, Patriot Missile, Sentinel, Power Generation, Theater High Altitude Area Defense System, Hellfire, and Multiple Launch Rocket System.
• Leading all Soldier programs, manning, communications, and issues. His management and execution of the Personnel Force Innovation program was a force multiplier for the depot.
Amoke leaves LEAD for the U.S. Army Medical Command at Pinellas Park, Florida, as the Chief Medical noncommissioned officer.
Replacing Amoke is Gearhart from Fayetteville, Pennsylvania.
Gearhart entered the United States Army on July 18, 1990, and served across the globe supporting U.S. Army Soldiers and civilians.
In one of those roles, he served at LEAD from 2009 to 2012 with the 443rd Military Police Company and the 324th Military Police Battalion. Prior to coming to LEAD, he served as the Operations sergeant major with U.S. Army Japan at Camp Zama.
“With his 35 years of military and civilian experience and his local ties to the community, I know SGM Gearhart will keep Letterkenny Army Depot going in the right direction for years to come,” said Santillo.
| Date Taken: | 03.31.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2025 10:46 |
| Story ID: | 494222 |
| Location: | CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 30 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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