Brian Hill

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (June 29, 2022) U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood held a change-of-command ceremony today on the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Plaza, where Col. Jeff Paine relinquished command to Col. Anthony Pollio.

Vince Grewatz, director of U.S. Army Installation Management Command – Training at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, was the reviewing officer for the ceremony. He called Paine’s leadership here over the past two years capable, innovative and motivated.

“Installation management is not for the faint of heart,” Grewatz said. “For any of you who are familiar with it, it can be unpredictable; it can test our mettle. The Army doesn’t train its officers specifically to be garrison commanders, but it does develop leaders, leaders who are capable, innovative and motivated for this kind of a challenge, and the demands of this kind of command. Jeff Paine is precisely that kind of a leader.”

Paine drove positive change here, Grewatz said.

“He operationalized IMCOM’s reorganization under the Army Materiel Command and created one of the strongest housing programs in the Army,” Grewatz said. “He materially improved the quality of life and readiness in the face of constrained resourcing, hiring challenges and supply-chain friction.”

Grewatz also called installation management a team effort — he highlighted the work of Paine’s garrison team.

“You guys are awesome; you make it happen every day,” he said. “We ask a lot of you, and you always rise to the challenge. I’m so proud of your commitment and your dedication to serve. To enable training, support, protection; taking care of our families, children and Soldiers; and partnering with our stakeholders and communities. Your accomplishments testify to the hard work and sacrifice that you make to deliver extraordinary services here every day.”

Paine, who is retiring after 26 years of service, thanked his garrison team for their hard work over the past two years.

“Thank you all for everything you have done to ensure Fort Leonard Wood’s mission of building the best Army in the world was successful — because it was,” he said. “Thank you for making ‘People First’ a verb, and not just a bumper sticker.”

Grewatz welcomed Pollio to the Fort Leonard Wood and IMCOM communities, noting Pollio’s “extensive military intelligence experience.”

“Nothing you’ve done in the past will truly prepare you for the job you are about to undertake,” Grewatz said. “You’ve distinguished yourself by your integrity, your organizational and managerial skills, your flexibility and creativity, and, above all, your caring and compassionate leadership for our Soldiers and their families.”

Pollio comes here from Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he was the director of G3X – Sensitive Activities for U.S. Army Cyber Command. He said his selection for this assignment has a “special significance, since I started my service in the Army when I attended (Basic Combat Training) at Fort Leonard Wood in 1993.”

“To the garrison and MSCoE teams, as I have interacted with you over the past few weeks, I have been inspired by your expertise and exceptional dedication to supporting the Soldiers and civilians who train, work and live on Fort Leonard Wood,” he said. “I am proud to be a new member of the team and look forward to serving with you.”

More photos from the ceremony are available on the Fort Leonard Wood Flickr page at, https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortleonardwood/albums/72177720300164351.

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About Fort Leonard Wood

Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post 80 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains nearly 80,000 military and civilians each year.

Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.

Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.

More information about Fort Leonard Wood is at: https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/about/mission