CRANE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Crane Army Ammunition Activity receives, stores, and issues ammunition to war fighters in the United States military.
With
approximately 800 civilians working at CAAA, former commander Colonel
Michael Garlington says the person in charge of this operation has an
important role.
“I’m able to relate my experiences as a more
tactical soldier to the heroes that work here at Crane so that they
understand and have a connection from the factory to the foxhole,” said
Col. Garlington.
Tuesday, after two years as commander and a
nearly 30 year military career, Garlington relinquished his command to
Colonel Stephen Dondero with a traditional change of command ceremony.
Dondero
comes to Crane with 23 years of military experience as a logistician,
most recently attending the United States Navy War College. Dondero says
his background in logistics fits his new position.
“This is big
league logistics and any logistician that is worth their salt would want
to come to an organization like this,” Col. Dondero said.
Dondero says one of his main goals as commander is to prepare Crane Army Ammunition Activity for a successful future.
He says it is the same thing that was done for him by the previous commander.
“It’s
setting up my successor to be an effective leader of this organization
so that he or she can carry it forward and continue to do the great work
that Colonel Garlington started,” Dondero said.
Garlington says he is confident that Dondero will continue to lead Crane Army Ammunition Activity in the right direction.
“I
was able to take things as far as I could during my time. Steve has got
a phenomenal plan on how he is going to move it to the next level,”
Garlington said.
Dondero says he has worked with primarily civilian work-forces in the past but the one at Crane will be on a larger scale.
Garlington says he will retire from the United States Army and move with his family to Austin, Texas.
