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Colonel accepts banner of leadership of Arsenal's Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center

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By Mary Louise Speer | Friday, August 3, 2007 12:02 AM CDT | () comments

Col. Craig Cotter, right, incoming commander of the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center, gives a hug to outgoing commander Col. Bruce Elliott during a change of command ceremony Thursday at the Rock Island Arsenal. Elliott, who assumed the command in 2004, will retire Oct. 31 after 29 years of service. Cotter arrived from Heidelberg, Germany, where he served as chief of plans and operations for the Logistics Directorate of U.S. Army Europe. (Kevin E. Schmidt/QUAD-CITY TIMES)

Col. Bruce Elliott handed over a red and gold Rock Island Arsenal flag and future direction of the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center on Thursday to new commanding officer.

Col. Craig Cotter took over the position during a change of command ceremony led by Major General Mike Lenaers, commanding general of the U.S. Army TACOM life cycle management command, at Memorial Field, Arsenal Island.

“Today marks my final roll call with you,” Elliott told the center’s workers.

“What means the most to me ... is what we’re shipping out to our soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. It’s helping save their lives and bring them home safely,” he said, pointing toward a display of field technology equipment that included the forward repair system and Humvee gunner protection kit manufactured at the center.

“Knowing Col. Cotter will continue that means so much to me,” he said.

The center manufactures weapons and weapon components. The forward repair system gives maintenance crews the ability to make almost any repair necessary in field or battle conditions.

The outgoing commander will retire from the Army after

29 years of service. He became the 44th commander of the center in 2004. On Aug. 20, he will begin a new civilian position as a safety director for the Department of the Army, Rock Island Arsenal.

During his farewell, Elliott warmly praised worker Hazel Moore, who retired from the center in October 2005 at the age of 80 as a gauge packer. She stood for a moment of acknowledgment during the ceremony. “Hazel, it has been an honor to serve with you,” he said.

He noted that “these are demanding times, demanding extraordinary efforts from everyone. Let us not forget that the only reason the Rock Island Arsenal exists today is to serve the war soldier.”

Incoming commander Cotter and his family arrived in the Quad-City area Sunday. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and comes from Heidelberg, Germany, where he served as chief of plans and operations for the Logistics Directorate of U.S. Army Europe.

He is married to Brenda Cotter and they are the parents of Philip, 19, and Angela, 18. His previous service includes deploying the 501st Ordnance Company to Southwest Asia during Operations Desert Shield/Storm and posts in Army facilities in the United States and Germany.

“I think the challenge that I’m going to have is to keep up with the professionals that make up this organization. I want to meet their standards,” he said. “If I can just come close to the type of quality they’re known for, I will be happy.”

He reflected on the workers who manufacture munitions for soldiers serving in war conditions. “I know that all of us will not let them down. Hoorah,” he said.

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.