PHILADELPHIA –
Army Brig. Gen. Eric P. Shirley completed his tenure as the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support commander during a change of command ceremony on June 15 in Philadelphia.
DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Michelle Skubic officiated the event that honored Shirley’s departure from DLA Troop Support after two years and recognized Troop Support’s accomplishments under his leadership.
“Brig. Gen. Shirley is an exceptional leader, and the Troop Support team has responded brilliantly under his watch,” said Skubic, “it’s even more impressive when you consider the unprecedented environment of the past two years: the lasting effects of COVID-19, the Afghanistan withdrawal, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, inflation, industrial base challenges.”
Shirley attributed his leadership success to the strength and dedication of the DLA Troop Support workforce, a group of individuals who often exceeded his expectations.
“I have been on some great teams, even historic teams deployed and in the homeland,” Shirley told the packed auditorium, but the “secret sauce” for DLA Troop Support is the people. The [Troop Support workforce] is a family and a proud one at that!”
The senior leaders of the organization also made a strong impression on Shirley, and he invited them to stay in contact with him.
“Wherever I am in this world, I will always stop what I’m doing to pick up the phone for any leader in this outfit”, he said
Under Shirley’s command DLA Troop Support provided more than $19 billion annually worth of food, clothing and textiles, construction and equipment, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, as well as industrial repair parts for America’s warfighters and other valued customers worldwide. To accomplish this mission, Shirley led a global workforce of more than 2,100 civilian and military personnel. Shirley’s new position is as the commanding general of the 1st Sustainment Command at U.S. Army Central in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Shirley gave some parting words to his successor, Army Col. Landis Maddox.
“There is no better place for an Army brigadier to serve than here at [Troop Support]”, he said.
Maddox, a Texas native, comes to Troop Support with 27 years of experience as an Army logistician. His previous assignment was as the commander of the Joint Munitions Command, headquartered in Illinois at the Rock Island Arsenal.