WSMR Garrison welcomes new commander

White Sands Missile Range welcomed a new Garrison Commander during a Change of Command ceremony as outgoing Garrison Commander Col. Donyeill A. Mozer relinquished command to Col. Michael A. Lueckeman July 28 at the Organ Mountains Parade Field.

Acting Director, U.S. Army Installation Management Command – Training, Col. Harry D. Hung welcomed guests and employees to the ceremony.

U.S. Army Photos by Jose Salazar

“Today we recognize the exceptional leadership of Col. Donyeill Mozer and welcome Col. Michael A. Lueckeman as the new Commander U.S. Army Garrison,” Hung said. “We are here at a very special place. This national treasure of 3,200 square miles is vast. This is where missiles, rockets, directed energy, nuclear and space-based testing happen…This doesn’t just happen on its own. It needs a platform and that is the U.S. Army Garrison, that operates, maintains, and sustains the core infrastructure, providing the critical services needed to keep both the mission of testing and experimentation on task for our joint services and national agencies. And ensuring that quality of life is delivered for our soldiers, families, joint and allied forces who live and work here.”

“Don, you’ve enabled your directorate of public works and environmental division to really shine by balancing modernization with rigorous environmental stewardship,” Hung said. Speaking to Mozer and the garrison workforce Hung said that their dedication formed the backbone of this installation that keeps testing and mission running at full throttle. “The success of White Sands Missile Range is a direct reflection of your hard work and commitment to excellence. Thank you.”

Mozer, who is retiring, also thanked all the visitors and employees.

“I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Serving as the garrison commander for the last two years has been a distinct honor of my military career,” Mozer said. “A range of this scale, supporting cutting age research development and joint service testing cannot operate without a world class foundation. That foundation is the garrison. To the men and women of the WSMR Garrison you are the unsung heroes of this range. Day in and day out you manage the infrastructure, the safety, the housing and the quality of life that allows our testers to focus on the vital mission.”

Lueckeman, a New Mexico State University graduate, also thanked all the visitors and his family for attending.

“Thank you for the warm welcome from the team at White Sands Missile Range. I’m excited to be a good teammate here and I’m excited to serve in this community,” Lueckeman said. “I’m grateful to be back in New Mexico. I’m a very proud graduate of New Mexico State University. There is no place I would rather command, there is no place I would rather serve than right here at White Sands Missile Range. Commanding this garrison is a tremendous responsibility, it’s one I don’t take lightly. I will work tirelessly to be a good teammate, to serve our WSMR community and to represent WSMR and our military with professionalism throughout the surrounding communities.”

Lueckeman most recently served as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General T2COM.