FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
Fort Eustis and Training and Doctrine Command took another significant step towards completing a Base Realignment and Closure-directed initiative during a transfer responsibility reception at the Fort Eustis Club Tuesday.
Fort Eustis Commander and Chief of Transportation Brig.Gen. Brian R. Layer transferred the role of senior commander to Deputy Commanding General/Chief of Staff of Training and Doctrine Command Lt. Gen. John E. Sterling Jr., thus ending an era of the Transportation Corps providing the commander of Fort Eustis. The official reception was an opportunity for Layer to thank his staff and the Fort Eustis community for their support and hard work during his tenure.
"I want to say thanks from the bottom of my heart for what Fort Eustis has done for our Soldiers and our families. I'm proud to say despite all the transformation, Fort Eustis remains a great place to live and train. This is a place where Soldiers and family members get treated right, always with dignity and respect inside our gates and outside the community," said Layer.
Since 1947, the Transportation Corps has provided Fort Eustis a senior commander with the commandant for the U.S. Army Transportation School and Center serving as the commander of Fort Eustis.
"Despite my leaving the journey continues as Eustis moves down the road under the senior command of a magnificent Army leader. Lieutenant General Sterling Jr. has spent a lifetime experience in this responsibility, and I'm confident the Army has got this arrangement just right," said Layer.
According to Sterling, this is the fifth series of BRAC, and for the Army this moves involves more transition, turmoil, construction and movement than all of the previous BRAC actions combined.
"We thank the Layers for all the great leadership they both have provided here.
The attention and care that he has put into everybody in the transition to Fort Eustis is going to be well received, and we are going to do it right," said Sterling.
Sterling continued by acknowledging Fort Eustis' elevated progress throughout BRAC.
"All of us at TRADOC are really looking forward to becoming part of this great community both inside and outside the gates," said Sterling.
Layer will now transition to Fort Lee as he prepares for the Transportation School change of command Aug. 16.