6/27/2014 -- FORT LEE, Va. (June 26, 2014) -- The Marine Corps Detachment Fort Lee recently welcomed a new commander.
Lt. Col. Thomas H. Gilley IV ceremoniously took possession of the Marine Corps flag from Lt. Col. William F. Schoen during a change of command ceremony Friday at Ball Auditorium.
Col. Timothy M. Parker served as the reviewing officer. He is commander of the Weapons Training Battalion, the higher headquarters for the detachment located at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
Gilley, who previously served as the deputy director, Logistics Division of the Training and Education Command at Quantico, said he has anticipated the mission here for some time.
“I am glad to be able to share this moment with you, and I am as proud as they come to assume command,” said the Baltimore native during his remarks.
Gilley earlier thanked his wife and other family members seated in the audience and later pointed out and cited a few mentors and former staff members who impacted his career. He made special reference to Schoen for helping him the past 10 months with the transition, noting how he took care of Marines and their families and how well he “trained the next round of war-fighters to go forward. “
You did that to the best of your ability,” he continued. “I’ll try to emulate that.”
Schoen, whose tenure lasted two years and five days, was a hands-on commander who worked daily to improve the detachment, said Parker.
“What I’ve seen over the past 24 hours coming here is a command that is excited,” he said, “excited about the training – excited about working with each other. That is a command atmosphere that you establish … It comes from the leader being out there and making that happen.
” Schoen spent nearly 20 minutes thanking those who made it “happen.” They included his wife and teenage son and daughter; the detachment staff and faculty members; the Fort Lee leadership and its garrison; and members of the Marine Corps community.
On a final note, he thanked the Marines in training and those responsible for training them.
“I love you deeply,” he said. “I care for each and every one of you. I want the very best for your families. That has made this experience the easiest thing in the world because that has been reciprocated …
” Schoen is headed to the U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
The Marine Corps Detachment Fort Lee was established in 1983. It has a staff and faculty of roughly 180 who support the throughput of 2,000 students yearly.