Brian Hill
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (May 13, 2021) — The U.S. Army Engineer School welcomed Col. Daniel Hibner as its 99th commandant in a ceremony held May 11 at Lincoln Hall Auditorium.
Maj. Gen. James Bonner, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, was the reviewing officer. He complimented the work of Brig. Gen. Mark Quander, outgoing commandant, calling him “an incredible asset” to USAES, MSCoE, Fort Leonard Wood and the Army.
“Under his care, his team has generated readiness in a COVID environment by training and developing nearly 23,000 Soldiers, and another 3,000 officers and warrant officers,” he said. “Mark’s ability to prioritize and inspire, and develop leaders of character, is his greatest contribution to his regiment and to our Army.”
Bonner also welcomed Hibner, who arrived here from an assignment with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as Savannah District commander, South Atlantic Division.
He also previously worked as a project engineer and construction manager at the USACE New Orleans District, and served as the district’s Emergency Operations Center chief and executive officer following Hurricane Katrina.
“You have the unique combination of operational and technical experience that make you a perfect leader to continue the momentum of this great team,” Bonner said.
Quander thanked MSCoE, the Military Police and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear schools, and other agencies across Fort Leonard Wood, and added MSCoE is unlike any other center of excellence across U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.
“Our success has been driven by our ability to collaborate and leverage unique capabilities and skill sets,” he said.
Quander also spoke on what he has learned during his time at USAES.
“The power of our Engineer Regiment is not in our machines and technology that power our formations, but rather the people who solve problems and our families who selflessly support us,” he said. “I know that the entire team is fully committed to serving a higher purpose, and it’s clear that you have the passion and dedication to ensure the Engineer Regiment will always be ready when our nation calls.”
Hibner arrived for this assignment with his wife, Teresa, and children Grant, Evan and Tessa.
“It’s impossible to navigate an Army career without your family’s love and support, and I’ve enjoyed exactly that from mine for over 27 years,” he said.
He also thanked his parents, “who nudged me into my Army career.”
“Nudge, meaning they packed my bags,” he said.
Hibner said there is a lot of positive momentum in the Engineer Regiment that he aspires to build on during his time as commandant.
“This mission is so crucial to the Army, and I couldn’t be happier to partner with you here at Fort Leonard Wood,” he said. “I could not be more humbled to come back to serve as the Engineer commandant. This is absolutely exciting for me, and I absolutely can’t wait to move forward with the Engineer and MSCoE team.”
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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 more than 75 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains more than 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