New commander to lead Tobyhanna Army Depot's 3,200 employees

Northeastern Pennsylvania’s largest industrial employer has two new leaders focused on the organization’s future.

Col. Daniel L. Horn relinquished command of Tobyhanna Army Depot to Col. James L. Crocker, while Sgt. Maj. Michael S. Riggs assumed responsibility as the depot’s senior enlisted advisor during a military ceremony on June 29.

The event was presided over by Maj. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Depot employees, representatives of state and local government, community partners and family members witnessed flag-passing rituals, which signify the transfer of command from one Army leader to another. Other members of Team Tobyhanna and family members of Horn, Crocker and Riggs attended the event virtually.

Col. Horn departs Tobyhanna to become the Commandant of the Army Sustainment University at Ft. Gregg-Adams (referred to as Ft. Lee until 2023). In his final address to Team Tobyhanna, he praised the organization and its workforce.

“We are a world-class organization. We are winning the war on talent. We are a leader in innovation. We are Tobyhanna Army Depot. In my final act as your commander, I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to every single member of Team Tobyhanna who allow us to execute our vital mission of providing the best value in support of the joint warfighter.”

Crocker is the depot’s 35th commander and most recently served while deployed as the 1st Theater Sustainment Command Support Operations Officer in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education in Science from Mississippi State University. Crocker also has a Master of Business Administration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

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Crocker will lead 3,200 employees as depot commander and will be responsible for supporting global readiness for Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense.

Riggs is the depot’s 22nd sergeant major. In his most recent assignment, he served as Support Squadron Command Sergeant Major of the 3rd Operational Support Group at Ft. Liberty (referred to as Ft. Bragg until 2023). He has served in staff and leadership positions at stateside and overseas military installations and has deployed to Southwest Asia seven times in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve.

As sergeant major, Riggs serves as the voice of the warfighters who depend on Tobyhanna Army Depot for full lifecycle support of their C5ISR equipment. He also counsels the commander on matters relating to Soldiers, military families, and the depot workforce.

Col. Crocker’s first address to the Tobyhanna community was one brimming with humility and enthusiasm.

“Team Tobyhanna, I am humbled and honored to lead a workforce that is known worldwide to provide the highest quality in communications and electronics to our warfighters. Thank you for what you do every day and I look forward to leading you, getting to know you and accomplishing many great things together!” he said.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.

Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters.

Tobyhanna is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Col. Crocker takes over as 35th commander at Tobyhanna Army Depot