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News | June 24, 2022

Army logistician officer takes charge of DLA Troop Support Europe & Africa

By Susan Kinton DLA Troop Support Europe & Africa

The charge to deliver food, uniforms, medical items and more to ensure the combat readiness of America’s warfighters throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East changed hands June 17.

Army Lt. Col. Fermin Gonzales Jr. assumed command of the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Europe & Africa from Lt. Col. Tracy Yates during a change of command ceremony in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Army Brig. Gen. Eric P. Shirley, DLA Troop Support commander, officiated the outdoor ceremony in front of more than forty guests and distinguished visitors at the DLA Quad on Kleber Kaserne.

DLA Troop Support Europe & Africa is a forward element of DLA Troop Support in Philadelphia and supports warfighters in the region through four supply chains: Subsistence, Clothing & Textiles, Medical and Construction & Equipment.

Shirley commented that Yates has expertly led the DLA Troop Support Europe and Africa team through some of the most challenging and volatile times in recent history.

“I’ve witnessed first-hand Tracy’s impact on the local workforce and on Troop Support as a whole as she navigated Warfighter support through the COVID-19 pandemic and additional global crises.” he said. “Under Yates command, the Warfighter was supported with more than 2 billion dollars in Class I, Class II, Class IV and Class VIII items, including more than 30 million dollars in Maintenance, Repair and Operations sales.”

Yates gave credit to military service members, DLA civilians and the local national workforce of DLA Troop Support Europe & Africa whose “care, commitment and sense of duty drives them to go above and beyond.”  She said, “It has been an honor over these past two years to serve with this dedicated team of professionals.”

Yates will serve as the Assistant Executive Officer to the Commanding General of Army Materiel Command at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.

Gonzales takes command after completing a three-year tour in Okinawa, Japan with the 10th Regional Support Group, U.S Army Japan where he served as the operations officer, executive officer, and deputy commander.

“I’d like to thank the DLA chain of command for this amazing privilege to command Troop Support Europe & Africa,” he said. “I look forward to serving this great organization and its vital mission to support the warfighter.”