KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany –
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 7.
Army Lt. Col. Eduardo Rivera assumed command of the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Europe & Africa from Army Lt. Col. Fermin Gonzales Jr. during a change of command ceremony in Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Army Brig. Gen. Landis C. Maddox, DLA Troop Support commander, officiated the outdoor ceremony in front of more than fifty guests and distinguished visitors at the DLA Quad on Kleber Kaserne.
“Gonzales has expertly led the DLA Troop Support Europe and Africa team stationed in eleven locations across six countries providing superior support to three combatant commands, US European Command, US Africa Command, and US Central Command,” Maddox said. “Fermin’s tenure as commander has left an impressive legacy, under his command the Warfighter was supported through the end of the COVID pandemic, and responses to global crisis in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa.”
Gonzales gave credit to the military service members, DLA civilians and local national workforce of DLA Troop Support Europe & Africa.
“This team’s care, commitment and sense of duty drives them to above and beyond, it has been an honor over these past two years to serve with this dedicated team of professionals,” he said.
Gonzales will serve on the Logistics Information Management team as an Army logistics IT enterprise planner at the Pentagon in Washington DC.
Rivera takes command after completing a two-year tour in the National Capital Region with the Headquarters Department of the Army where he served as a Special Operations Divisions Logistics branch chief in the Strategic Operations directorate.
“I am very excited to be part of the DLA Troop Support and Defense Logistics Agency family. I look forward to carrying on the tradition of outstanding support to the Warfighters as a Trusted Mission Partner, Rivera said, “Warfighter Always!”
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.