By Eric Franklin Fort Cavazos Public Affairs

FORT CAVAZOS, Texas – Soldiers, Families, and community leaders gathered Friday morning to welcome Brig. Gen. Geoff R. Van Epps as the new deputy commanding general of III Armored Corps.

Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, commanding general of III Armored Corps and Fort Cavazos, presided over the event.

“Thanks for joining us this morning, let me start as I often do with a special thanks to all the folks that made today’s ceremony possible,” Bernabe said. “If you take a look at this big blue tent, I get a chance to watch them put this up for these events and it is a heck of a functional fitness workout every time.”

During the patching ceremony, Bernabe honored the outgoing Deputy Commanding General – Maneuver, Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Feltey. He highlighted Feltey’s contributions and positive attitude.

“Tom performed all his tasks exceptionally well. He performed all those tasks cheerfully,” Bernabe said. “He always had a huge smile on his face and genuine joy in his heart.”

Bernabe also expressed confidence in Van Epps, who previously served as the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division, and as the director of the Office of the Chief of Engineers on the Army staff.

“He’s a warrior scholar. And I tell you this as an experienced professional engineer, that makes him a professional problem solver,” Bernabe said. “And I think that’s really the business we’re in.”

With nearly 100,000 Soldiers, over 700 main battle tanks, and more than 1,000 Bradley Fighting Vehicles across four divisions, III Armored Corps represents over 40% of the U.S. Army’s combat power. Van Epps expressed his enthusiasm for joining the unit.

“I couldn’t be more excited. I mean, this is a great unit with a long and storied history,” Van Epps said. “To join the more than 90,000 Soldiers that provide a lot of the Army’s punch (combat power) it is a tremendous honor.”

Van Epps also emphasized the crucial role of the local community in Fort Cavazos’ success and readiness.

“I want the community to understand how integral they are to the success of the team here at Fort Cavazos,” he said. “They play a huge role in supporting the Soldiers, the Families, the training environment, and making sure that this is a place that we’re able to maintain our readiness.”

Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, commanding general of III Armored Corps, places the unit patch on the left shoulder of Brig. Gen. Geoff R. Van Epps, deputy commanding general of III Armored Corps, during the patching ceremony Friday morning.

Brig. Gen. Geoff R. Van Epps, deputy commanding general of III Armored Corps, and his wife, Erica, listen to Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, commanding general of III Armored Corps, during the patching ceremony Friday morning.

Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, commanding general of the III Armored Corps, speaks to the many accomplishments of outgoing Deputy Commanding General – Maneuver, Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Feltey, and outlines the path forward for Brig. Gen. Geoff R. Van Epps, the incoming Deputy Commanding General – Maneuver, during the patching ceremony Friday morning in front of the III Armored Corps headquarters.