Outgoing NETCOM Major General credited for his accomplishments at local post

Sierra Vista Herald ^ | Eric Petermann

[SandRat]

FORT HUACHUCA — “There is no going back,” Major Gen. John B. Morrison, Jr., reminded an auditorium full of soldiers and civilians on Tuesday at the Change of Command ceremony, introducing the new leader of the Network Enterprise Technology Command on Fort Huachuca.

Morrison, together with his wife Ann, have been stationed at the local post for more than two years. The couple were celebrated at a farewell dinner Monday night and Maj. Gen. Morrison officially surrendered his NETCOM position during the traditional ceremony Tuesday morning at Greely Hall on Fort Huachuca.

Morrison’s next assignment will be as the Commanding General at the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon in Georgia.

“This is a day to say thank you,” Morrison said at Tuesday’s ceremony. “We have set a standard for the Army and for the Department of Defense, and that’s because of you,” he said, referencing NETCOM soldiers and government civilians attending the event.

Lieutenant Gen. Edward C. Cardon officiated the change of command, and opened his remarks focusing on three areas — operations, modernization and globalization.

“Thanks to you, NETCOM is now a war-fighting platform,” Cardon said, referencing Morrison

Cardon is the Commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and Second Army.

The lieutenant general credited Morrison developing convincing arguments that resulted in NETCOM securing “1-percent of the defense budget,” helping the command modernize and extend its reach to 35 countries and more than 16,000 troops.

“We’re clearly at another level because of him,” Cardon said of Morrison.

Cardon also welcomed Major General John W. Baker to Fort Huachuca and credited him for his work at his previous assignment, at Fort Gordon.

“These two generals have changed the way we think about networks,” Cardon said.

Baker has been the commander of the 7th Signal Command at Fort Gordon since June 27, 2014. Prior to that he served as the Director of Command and Control, Communications and Computer Systems, J-6, at the United State Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.

He has a master’s degree from Central Michigan University and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

He credited Morrison with being “the soldier’s soldier,” and the “leader’s leader.”

“Maj. Gen. Morrison is exceptional in every sense of the word,” Baker said.

He credited Lt. Gen. Cardon and Maj. Gen. Morrison with changing the Army mindset to recognize that the cyber security is an “investment, not a cost.”

Baker said he and his wife Laurie “love the Southwest,” and are looking forward to his NETCOM assignment.

[SandRat]