LOCAL

50th commander takes over at Letterkenny Army Depot

Staff report

Letterkenny Army Depot received its 50th commander this week. 

Col. Gregory Gibbons succeeded Col. Stephen Ledbetter as commander of Letterkenny Army Depot on Thursday. Gibbons accepted the Letterkenny flag and the responsibility of command from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command’s Executive Deputy to the Commanding General William Marriott.

“My goal is to listen and learn as much as I can from you- the experts, and to build upon the depot’s 77-year legacy of maintaining Army readiness and supporting the warfighter as the center of excellence for air and missile defense,” Gibbons said.

Marriott said the success of today’s Army is “dependent on the quality of its leaders.”

Sergeant Major Rich Huff, left, receives the Letterkenny Army Depot colors from Col. Gregory Gibbons as he takes on his new role as commander. Bill Marriott, right, executive director of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, presided over the ceremony.

More:Letterkenny changes land and lives over 75 years

“Colonel Gibbons brings a track record of excellence to this organization,” Marriott said.

Gibbons most recently served as the Acting Deputy Chief of Staff, Combat Service Support for the NATO Rapid Deployment Corp in Istanbul, Turkey. A New York native, his military career began in 1997, as a platoon leader and later executive officer in Germany with the A Company, 123rd Main Support Battalion, 1st Armored Division, according to his biography on Letterkenny's website. The decorated veteran has deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, Philippines and twice to Afghanistan. 

Ledbetter assumed command in 2017. Under his leadership, Letterkenny was recognized for several efforts to include its support of the European Deterrence Initiative with the completion of the Avenger 72 program and the success of the first direct partnership with the Missile Defense Agency.

 “I will miss being a part of the Letterkenny family but I know you all will continue to excel, doing what you do best for the Army and for the Nation,” Ledbetter said.

More:What does Letterkenny Army Depot actually do?

More:Letterkenny Army Depot ranks No. 2 in economic impact in Pa.

Ledbetter also led the depot through tragedy. Two men - 29-year-old Eric Byers of Huntingdon County and Rick Barnes, 60, of Greencastle - died following an explosion and fire in a paint shop on July 19, 2018. 

Letterkenny Army Depot is the premier depot for air defense missile systems, route clearance vehicles and mobile electric power generation equipment. The depot was established in 1942 and is a government owned and operated industrial installation located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Its industrial facilities reside in over 18,000 government owned acres.