U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center welcomes new commander

The U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center bid farewell to one commander and welcomed another during an Aug. 22 ceremony at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.

The traditional passing of the colors from outgoing commander Brig. Gen. Timothy J. Edens to incoming commander Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Farnsworth marked the official change of command.

The ceremony also honored Edens’ retirement after a 33-year career. Edens entered the Army in 1981 after graduating from the United States Military Academy. He spent the last two years of his career as director of Army Safety and commanding general of the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center at Fort Rucker, duties he assumed in June 2012.

Director of the Army Staff Lt. Gen William T. Grisoli hosted the command transfer and retirement ceremonies. Grisoli described the official closing of Edens’ career as an Army legacy. 

“He (Edens) spent his career training and leading soldiers, in both peace and combat,” Grisoli said. “His career is marked by operational excellence and passion by training and soldiering, and has had a significant impact across our entire Army.” 

Edens was awarded several awards during the ceremony, including the Distinguished Service Honor, a certificate of appreciation from the President of the United States and the Order of Saint Michael Gold Medal.  

As incoming commander, Farnsworth said he looked forward to building on the accomplishments established by Edens and his command team over the last two years, and acknowledged ‘readiness’ as a key factor in the Safety Center’s success. 

“To meet the multitude of security challenges we face, at a time when we’re reducing our strength, readiness is an imperative,” Farnsworth said. “At the core of that readiness is safety and risk management. I’m proud to serve in that capacity—to be the Army’s ‘point man’ for safety—and work with this great team here as we champion our way forward.”

Farnsworth previously served as the deputy commanding general for operations at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

Farnsworth was commissioned into the Army Corps of Engineers in 1986 after receiving a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Norwich University. His many awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Army/Air Force Master Space Badge. 

Farnsworth said he looked forward to the responsibility of leading Fort Rucker’s Safety Center and its goal of protecting soldiers’ lives.

“The most important aspect of this job is the broader influence to prevent loss of America’s great sons and daughters, that make up the greatest Army in the world,” he said. “If I can save one life or prevent one accident with the great team we have here, then that is what is going to make it worthwhile.”