JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (Aug. 6, 2024) – The Mission and Installation Contracting Command’s Field Directorate Office-Fort Sam Houston held a change of director ceremony today at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Officiated by Maj. Gen. Doug Lowrey, commanding general, Army Contracting Command, the outdoor ceremony welcomed Col. Randy Garcia who assumed command from Col. Toney Stephenson who served as director since Aug. 2021.
Lowrey relinquished command of the MICC in June to Col. Freddy Adams to assume command of the MICC’s higher headquarters, Army Contracting Command in Huntsville, Alabama. The Field Directorate Office-Fort Sam Houston is one of four brigade-level subordinate units within the MICC, to include Field Directorate Office-Fort Eustis, Virginia, 418th Contracting Support Brigade at Fort Cavazos, Texas, and 419th Contracting Support Brigade at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. Lowrey remarked that it was an honor and his privilege to return to Texas to officiate the ceremony, despite the heat and humidity.
He began his remarks by describing FDO-FSH’s accomplishments while under Stephenson’s leadership. The FDO has a complex mission to deliver timely and decisive contracting effects and business solutions to MICC’s critical mission partners in support of key Army readiness Initiatives, wherever and whenever needed.
“I am going to list a few accomplishments over the last three years,” Lowrey said. The FDO is responsible for providing contracting support to the Arlington National Cemetery, Army Sustainment Command, Military District of Washington, Army Cadet Command, Army Human Resources Command, Army Installation Management Command, Army North, Army Recruiting Command, Military Entrance Processing Command, elements of Department of the Army Secretariat and Army staff in the Pentagon.
He elaborated on the far-reaching impact of the FDO’s support of Operation Allies Welcome. “Through OAW they stood up locations at Fort Bliss, Camp Atterbury, Fort McCoy and Fort Picket,” Lowrey explained. The FDO established multi-agency in-processing points at each location, a first stop for Afghan refugees seeking a new start. “They flawlessly assisted in processing over 60,000 Afghan refugees, giving them the freedom to live a long and prosperous life.”
Lowrey went on to describe how many of the FDO’s areas of responsibility often had strategic implications, to include their quick-reaction support to the Old Guard as they worked to rebuild their equine program in support of Arlington National Cemetery, establishing a global housing inspection program to improve housing for Army families, ensuring the quality and safety of Army dining facilities, assisting Army marketing during its launch of the “Be All You Can Be” campaign and executing the Army’s government purchase card program.
“Through GPC, those little government purchase cards,” Lowrey recalled, “the FDO helped the Army process over 330,000 actions worth over $350 million—that’s a lot.”
Referencing the more than 250 Soldiers and civilians throughout five locations that comprise the FDO, Lowrey praised their professionalism and commitment to their diverse mission, despite the change in leadership. He thanked members of the directorate for consistently going above and beyond their duties to ensure mission success.
“Your commitment to excellence doesn’t go unnoticed,” he said, stressing that the leadership change will not affect the upward trajectory that the FDO has established. “You are the true professionals that toil behind the scenes to keep major Army efforts running smoothly. Your mission is unique and rewarding and each and every one of you should be proud of your accomplishments.”
Lowrey, who also awarded Stephenson the Legion of Merit prior to the change of director ceremony, additionally praised Stephenson for his direct and long-lasting contributions to the FDO and Army contracting.
“As a strategic leader, Colonel Stephenson immediately recognized the importance of developing and growing the contracting community to be greater than it ever has been,” Lowrey said. Stephenson’s efforts and updates to ACC operational planning provided input to doctrinal changes that continue to positively impact the enterprise. Stephenson’s efforts in support of the warfighter directly impacted Army readiness and improved the state of preparation to detect, deter and defeat threats to the homeland, conduct defense support to civil authorities and theater security cooperation initiatives in defense of the U.S. and its interests.
“His focus on support to the warfighter yielded a significant increase in integrated planning and interoperability between the FDO-FSH as the senior contract officer and the Army North staff and leadership by standing up a dedicated support cell,” Lowrey said.
Stephenson thanked the members of the MICC command team, past and present, to include Lowrey, Adams, Clay Cole and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Gusman, for their guidance, leadership, and support over his last three years at the MICC. He also thanked his family, co-workers and close friends who have helped him succeed throughout his 28-year career, before highlighting some of the things that have made him proud during his tenure as director.
“When you execute a $2 billion portfolio you will, no doubt, have some great highlights,” Stephenson said, pointing to several high-profile accomplishments already commended by Lowrey. “Establishing the Army’s award capability on the front of the Secretary of Army’s Quality of Life campaign with food service and bases is one the most awesome mission sets I have been able to be a part of.”
Stephenson, who will now serve as the MICC chief of staff, has enjoyed a distinguished career.He was awarded a commission as an Army Air Defense Artillery officer following his 1996 graduation from the University of the South with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He is a member of the Army Acquisition Corps and is Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Level III certified in contracting. His operational assignments include serving as the chief of contracting for Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His acquisition assignments include the 614th Contingency Contracting Team at Fort Benning, Georgia, U.S. Army Central Command, 410th Contracting Support Brigade at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, and Joint Task Force Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. He has also served as the deputy chief of staff for operations at the MICC headquarters.
Stephenson also thanked what he called his FDO-FSH Family for many fun times and fond memories he will take with him. He congratulated Garcia for assuming responsibility over the thriving team and remarked on Lowrey’s enduring guidance for all teammates to “win every day”.
“Randy, you have already won my friend,” Stephenson said. “Here you will grow tremendously, both personally and professionally.”
The tradition of changes in leadership is rooted in military history dating back to the 18th century when organizational flags with colors and symbols unique to each unit were developed. During a ceremony conducted in front of the unit, the organizational flag is passed to the individual assuming responsibility, to whom Soldiers of the unit would dedicate their loyalty and trust. After the unit flag was exchanged, Lowrey used his remarks to demonstrate how capable and ready Garcia is to assume the new responsibility.
“Randy your background is very impressive,” Lowrey said. Garcia has nearly 23 years of military service, beginning with his enlistment in the Army in 1998. In 1999, he attended advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston. In 2001, he accepted an ROTC scholarship through the Army’s green to gold program and was commissioned into the Medical Service Corp in 2003, before earning an acquisition identifier in 2010. He comes to FDO-FSH from the 418th CSB where he deployed his battalion in support of 409th CSB, who are responsible for providing enhanced readiness and operational capacity for U.S. and partner forces in the European theater. Garcia’s operational experience includes Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Allies Welcome, and Operation European Assure Deter Reinforce.
“Randy, I know you are the right person to continue moving this organization forward. I just have three words for you: win every day,” Lowrey directed.
For his part, Garcia reflected on the full-circle moment. “What an honor to assume command where I, as Private Garcia, started my career in AIT in 1999,” Garcia said, expressing his excitement to return to the base and lead such an impressive organization. He said he looked forward to working together as they continue to drive change and deliver contracting solutions for the Army.
“Your unwavering commitment, resilience and professionalism are the pillars that support our mission,” Garcia told his new team. “I am privileged to have the opportunity to lead such an extraordinary team. I promise to uphold the values and traditions that are the hallmark of this organization.”
To learn more about the Mission and Installation Contracting Command or Field Directorate Office-Fort Sam Houston, visit https://www.army.mil/micc.
