FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Lt. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl took command of U.S. Army
Installation Management Command from Lt. Gen. David D. Halverson during a
change-of-command ceremony at the Fort Sam Houston Theater Nov. 3.
Gen. Mark A. Milley, the 39th Chief of Staff of the Army,
presided over both the change-of-command ceremony and Dahl’s promotion ceremony
that took place earlier.
“K.D. (Dahl) is immensely qualified to be the commanding
general,” Milley said. “He’s a proven combat leader, he’s a man of great
character and I have no doubt in my mind that he’s going to take IMCOM to the
next level of excellence.”
Until today, IMCOM and the
Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management were
commanded by one three-star general in a “dual-hatted” status. The creation of
a new 3-star position and the decision to make IMCOM directly report to the
Chief of Staff of the Army indicates how important the mission is to senior
Army leadership.
IMCOM manages all the day-to-day infrastructure and support
programs on Army installations, allowing mission commanders to focus on their
mission: to fight and win the nation’s wars. It also allows for cost avoidance
and cost savings by centralizing management and purchasing power, and enables
Soldiers to focus on preparing for the current and future fight because they
know their families at home are being cared for.
Dahl pledged that IMCOM would continue to provide the best
support for command teams at Army installations around the world under his
command.
“Having never served at the same place twice I can be justly
accused of being an expert at nothing, but I will give myself credit for
knowing a lot about the Army. Knowing where it lives and knowing what it does,”
Dahl said. “I’m excited to be at this command for I have an opportunity to
support all our senior commanders and enabling their critical missions that
they execute in their own commands every single day.”
Milley explained that the split will allow IMCOM to be more efficient by placing a
proven leader with the command on Fort Sam Houston, rather than have the ASCIM
lead from the Pentagon remotely.
“The span of control was not as effective as if we could
split it apart and pick a single lieutenant general to lead IMCOM and then have
a staff officer as the ACSIM,” Milley said. “Because putting both of them
together is difficult and doesn’t lead to the most efficient methods of using
our leadership.”
In Army tradition, Halverson relinquished command by passing
the unit’s colors, which symbolizes command, to Milley, who then passed the
colors to Dahl, giving him the authority of command and formally recognizing
Dahl as IMCOM’s commanding general.
Halverson expressed his sentiments of leaving command and
taking the responsibility of the ACSIM.
“This is a bittersweet day as you all know, but it is a
great day for the Army,” Halverson said. “It’s been an honor. Thank you for
bringing the Army’s home everywhere and we’ll continue to do that.”
Dahl assured Halverson and those present that he would
ensure IMCOM would continue to be the foundation for Army readiness.
“We will touch the entire
Army every single day and everything that it does,” Dahl said. “I am thrilled
to be the commanding general of installation management command. I totally
appreciate how lucky I am and I will not squander a single moment.”