MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga. -- The first official change of command following the establishment of the Logistics Command happened Friday at Schmidt Field.
Maj. Gen. Bradley M. Lott handed the reigns to Maj. Gen. Harold Mashburn during the one-hour ceremony.
Lott thanked the band, emergency services, Naval medical personnel, and the Provost Marshal's Office personnel for their constant support and often unnoticed dedication.
Lott also challenged current LogCom personnel to maintain the momentum they have built up in the past two years to continue innovative work under the new leadership.
Lott said a lot of changes will take place after the transition of leadership, describing Mashburn as a man who always looks for ways to make things better.
"Everything changes today ... ," Mashburn said jokingly, after Lott made a comment about him being a "fast change agent," and handed him the microphone.
Mashburn went on to say that he is happy to be in Albany and looks forward to working here.
Mashburn promised to keep his comments short, but made his philosophy clear.
"Mission first, people always," he said.
After the ceremony, Mashburn added that he did not plan make changes just for the sake of change.
According to Mashburn, the Department of Defense is moving at a fast pace trying to keep up with modern technology and business practices, and LogCom must move at the same pace to remain efficient and competitive.
One of the main ways Mashburn plans to keep LogCom heading in the direction of state-of-the-art facilities is to keep his personnel well educated.
This base has a mission, he said, and he plans to continue to carry out that mission as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
Because of that mission, Mashburn said, MCLB Albany will remain relevant.
When asked what the greatest asset aboard the base is, Mashburn replied with a smile, "The people. That's an easy question."
Mashburn went on to explain that if people don't work together, the mission will not be accomplished as effectively.
As the LogCom commander, in addition to being MCLB Albany's commanding officer, Mashburn will oversee MCLB Barstow, Calif., Blount Island Command in Jacksonville Fla., and the Maintenance Centers at Albany and Barstow.