Las Cruces Sun-News Editorial: Announcements were good news for WSMR
As preparations were being made last week for the annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, two announcements were made looking toward the future of the range.
On Thursday, Army Brig. Gen. Eric L. Sanchez, a 1987 distinguished military graduate of New Mexico State University and native of Santa Fe, was named as the next commander of the missile range.
WSMR has been blessed to have a string of strong leaders over the years. The short rotations mean we are able to welcome accomplished military leaders to our community every few years. But it’s even more special to be able to welcome an Aggie grad and native son.
Now approaching his 28th year of service to the U.S. Army, Sanchez was promoted to brigadier general in August 2014.
“I have a lot of roots in the Las Cruces community as a New Mexico State University graduate, and my wife, Teresa, is a Mesilla native,” Sanchez said. “I am humbled by the privilege to command White Sands Missile Range.”
A Change of Command ceremony will be scheduled in late summer, when Sanchez will take over for Brig. Gen. Timothy Coffin, who has been commander since July 2014.
Sanchez comes to WSMR with a distinguished record of military leadership that recently included serving as deputy director at the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Bliss and commander of the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade in Osan, Korea.
One day earlier, it was announced by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-Albuquerque, that the 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery Test Detachment will be assigned to WSMR, bringing more than 100 soldiers from various Army instillations. They will arrive in October of next year, and the detachment is expected to be fully operational by 2018.
Heinrich, a member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee, said he has been working for several years to bring an active-duty mission to WSMR.
There are a total of about 100 active-duty soldiers, sailors and airmen stationed at WSMR today. The detachment would be at 143 members when at full force.
The 2nd Engineer Battalion was assigned to WSMR from 2008 until May 2015. It included approximately 500 soldiers, and served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2009 through 2012. In 2014 the battalion was reassigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, of the 1st Armored Division, at Fort Bliss.
The new detachment’s mission will be to provide expertise and knowledge in support of Army missile defense programs.
“At a time when the Army is cutting to the smallest levels since World War II, with bases across the country facing reductions, adding a new mission to White Sands is a big deal,” Heinrich said, adding that he will continue working for a larger active-duty presence at WSMR.
WSMR’s vast land mass, zero-to-infinity airspace and extensive expertise should ensure that the range continues to play a critical role in our nation’s defense for years to come.
We welcome Brig. Gen. Sanchez, and look forward to the arrival of the new detachment.
