REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. –
With the passing of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command colors, Brig. Gen. Todd Royar assumed command, Monday, during a ceremony held in the Bob Jones auditorium.
Lt. Gen. Edward Daly, Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, presided over the ceremony which was steeped in military history and tradition to install the newest commander of the organization responsible for Army aviation and missile life cycle management.
Daly started by thanking everyone in attendance to include the AMCOM workforce, “I want to begin by recognizing AMCOM’s unparalleled support to the warfighter. This organization is a key driver within the materiel enterprise which enables operational reach, prolongs tactical momentum and ensures staying power and endurance across the globe.
“Because AMCOM, with little fanfare, quietly ensures Army readiness, it doesn’t often capture media headlines. However, I will say this without a doubt, those of you assigned to AMCOM are truly the unsung heroes of the battlefield. It’s your contributions which guarantee the readiness of our aviation and missile systems.”
Daly then directed his comments to Royar, “Few know AMC and AMCOM better than Todd. He knows a thing or two about helicopters, a thing or two about combat and a thing or two about leadership. He understands the challenges, the mandates and the imperatives to ensure aviation and missile readiness. He is the right leader at the right time for this unit. There is nobody better to lead this organization.”
For Royar, a career Army Aviator, this is his second time being assigned at AMCOM. He previously served as the AMCOM Chief of Staff from 2015 to 2017. He returns to AMCOM from his most recent assignment with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as the Deputy Commanding General for Support.
And with that, Royar addressed the hundreds of distinguished visitors, AMCOM employees, Soldiers and other guests assembled at the ceremony.
“I appreciate the opportunity that General Perna and the Army have bestowed upon me by bringing me back AMCOM,” said Royar. “This is where we as a family wanted to come. We wanted to come back here because we wanted to help make a difference. Having just come from one of our great divisions in the Army, I recognize that providing the right support, the right part, at the right time to our warfighters is foremost in our minds. It truly is a privilege to come back to AMCOM.”
Royar, a native of Iowa City, Iowa, concluded his remarks with a pledge of teamwork.
“And finally to the AMCOM team, I recognize the fact there are challenges today and they are no less challenging today than they were yesterday. Through it all, we are going to make sure our warfighters have what they need. We need to make sure we are able to sustain the force. And with that, let’s get back to work.”
Royar graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1988. Throughout his career, Royar has served in units in the United States, Germany and Republic of South Korea. He has also deployed multiple times in support of Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Maj. Gen. Doug Gabram commanded AMCOM from February 2016 to February of this year when he moved to his current position as the Director for Test at the Missile Defense Agency. William Marriott, AMCOM Deputy to the Commanding General, has served as the Executive Director leading AMCOM since Feb. 14.
AMCOM is a worldwide agency responsible for developing and delivering responsive aviation, missile and calibration materiel readiness to the Army in order to optimize joint warfighter capabilities at the point of need.