Maj. Gen. John Rafferty receives the unit colors from Gen. Darryl Williams as he takes command of the 56th Artillery Command during a ceremony on June 13, 2024, in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany — The U.S. Army’s top artillery command in Europe, which is responsible for strengthening capabilities with NATO allies and partners, saw its leadership change Thursday for the second time since its reactivation three years ago.
Maj. Gen. John Rafferty took the reins of the 56th Artillery Command from Maj. Gen. Andrew Gainey in a ceremony at Clay Kaserne. The Army revived the command in 2021 in response to Russian maneuvers along NATO’s eastern flank.
“We are aligned and united again to enable and help another partner defeat a foe right now,” Gen. Darryl Williams, U.S. Army Europe and Africa commander, said Thursday while paying tribute to the recent 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
In February, the 56th led Europe’s largest artillery exercise, Dynamic Front, with participation from more than 20 allied and partner nations.
Maj. Gen. Andrew Gainey gives his final remarks as commander of the 56th Artillery Command June 13, 2024, in Wiesbaden, Germany. Gainey has been announced as the next commander of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Gen. Darryl Williams, U.S. Army Europe and Africa commander, speaks during the change of command ceremony for 56th Artillery Command June 13, 2024, in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Maj. Gen. Andrew Gainey, Maj. Gen. John Rafferty, Col. Seth Knazovich and Gen. Darryl Williams march during the inspection of troops as part of the 56th Artillery Command change of command ceremony June 13, 2024, on Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Outgoing commanding general of the 56th Artillery Command, Maj. Gen. Andrew Gainey, passes the unit colors to Gen. Darryl Williams as he relinquishes command of the unit during a ceremony June 13, 2024, on Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
“In over 30 years of service, this is the first unit I’ve been a part of that had such a strategic and global impact,” Gainey said Thursday of his 11 months in command.
His next assignment is in Italy as commander of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa.
Rafferty takes his new role after serving four years as the director of Army Futures Command’s long-range precision fires team and most recently as the Army’s chief of public affairs.
“There’s never been a more important time to have someone in charge that can ensure effective dissemination of information and fostering positive relationships, which will increase combat readiness,” Williams said of Rafferty.
Maj. Gen. John Rafferty, incoming commanding general for the 56th Artillery Command, speaks during a change of command ceremony June 13, 2024, on Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Rafferty highlighted continuous transformation as one of his top priorities during his first speech as commander. Part of that is the establishment of the Joint and Allied Theater Fires Architecture.
That program will link allies and partners using artificial intelligence and machine learning to make targeting decisions quickly, according to the command’s website.
“We’re ready to go tonight, but certainly the objective network is a goal for the whole theater,” Rafferty said, adding that the command has “a long way to go” before achieving the desired level.
Soldiers from the 529th Military Police Company fire cannons to welcome Gen. Darryl Williams to the 56th Artillery Command change of command ceremony June 13, 2024, on Clay Kaserne, in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
