FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky, the 45th commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), will relinquish command to Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Poppas, the incoming division commander, this week.
Under Volesky’s command, the 101st Airborne Division deployed twice as a headquarters: as the Joint Forces Headquarters during Operation United Assistance in Liberia, and as the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command – Operation Inherent Resolve.
Also during his time as commanding general, the 101st became the first Army division to complete the Multi-Component Unit transition, combining active-duty and Reservist soldiers as a singular unit to deploy in support of contingency operations around the world. These added soldiers from the Wisconsin and Utah National Guard played a major role in the division’s most recent deployment to Iraq in support of OIR.
Volesky will soon be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and take command of I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.
Maj. Gen. Poppas arrives to Fort Campbell from the Pentagon after completing his tour as the Director, Force Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G3/5/7. Poppas has previously been assigned to the 101st and Fort Campbell where he was the commander, 1st Brigade Combat Team “Bastogne,” 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), and the Deputy Commanding General for Operations, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).