FORT EUSTIS, Va. (USTCNS) --- With the symbolic gesture of passing the command colors, Brig. Gen. Donald D. Parker relinquished command of the Military Traffic Management Command's Deployment Support Command to Brig Gen. Barbara Doornink recently on Fort Eustis' Seay Plaza.

As DSC's second DSC commander, Parker continued to mold the command into a more streamlined operation. Two years earlier, as Parker took the helm, he said he would continue to lead the command through the challenge of providing the Department of Defense the continued legacy of transportation excellence that MTMC has provided throughout the years.

During his tenure as commander, Parker was challenged with maintaining a high operation tempo and developing streamlining initiatives to cut costs and provide the highest level of customer service to the command's customers --- the Warfighters.

"I feel that we, collectively, have made great strides in providing quality service to our many, diverse customer's" Parker said. "In concert with cutting our costs across MTMC, we have developed better credibility with those with whom we serve. Our customers now, more than ever, seek
the expertise and technical assistance that we lend. Our customers know that we, indeed, are focused on providing best value transportation service to the field."

In the two years Parker was in command, DSC provided crucial support to more than 170 operations and contingencies worldwide. As the command supported these missions, it looked internally at its structure and processes in an effort to meet the challenges of the Army of the future. A few of the initiatives the command undertook while under Parker's watch included the standardization of its battalions and centralization of staff functions.

In addition, Parker led the command through the closure of the DSC Alaska unit and the successful deployment and redeployment of the first digitized combat battalion to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

Parker leaves DSC and will become the director for force projection and distribution in the army's office of the deputy chief of staff for logistics, at the Pentagon.

"Under Brigadier General Parker's leadership, the DSC workforce has performed without parallel with remarkable resilience," said MTMC commander Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Privratsky. "The members of this command show remarkable understanding and remarkable teamwork."

Privratsky said this change of command is of particular importance as it is the last for DSC.

"In the future, the commanding general will transition to the deputy commanding general for operations of MTMC...in the very near future we will have another ceremony," he said.

Privratsky said in less than a year, what is now DSC will become the deputy chief of staff for operations with control of operations stateside and at the two overseas Groups.

"Fort Eustis will become the center of the universe for MTMC operations-that is a big deal! We will leverage technology, redefine traffic management," Privratsky said.

"Brigadier General Doornink is the right lady at the right time. She grew up in the trenches, has already completed a worldwide re-organization-only 5 times larger --, and reestablished a headquarters from two locations without interrupting support to customers," Privratsky said. "She cares about people and is a magnificent logistician. You could not ask for a better leader to follow in the footsteps of Don Parker."

"Brigadier General Parker is a tough act to follow," Doornink said. "It's good to be back at Fort Eustis. This installation is always a special place for transporters."

"I pledge to do my best to listen, to make the tough decisions and to lead in all I am capable of. Thanks to what you represent, we will meet the challenges of tomorrow to make our future better," she said.

Doornink expects the command to continue to step up to the challenges ahead and be better than ever.

She will be responsible for ensuring the command's upcoming streamlining efforts to migrate the majority of operations functions to Fort Eustis become reality.

Prior to arriving at DSC, Doornink served in the Pentagon as the director of plans, operations and logistics automation, office of the deputy chief of staff for logistics.

Doornink gained prominence for her service as commander of the Defense Distribution Center, Defense Logistics Agency, in New Cumberland, Pa., from 1998-2000. While in command, she led reorganization efforts at the facility. She has served a multitude of assignments including Fort Eustis and overseas tours of duty in Korea, Germany and Croatia.

The Prosser, Wash., native graduated from Washington State University in 1973 with a bachelor of arts degree in political science. She has a masters of science degree from the University of Southern California in Information Systems. She is a graduate of the Transportation Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Doornink's awards include two Defense Superior Service Medals, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, five Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, the Parachutist Badge, and the British Parachutist Badge.

The Deployment Support Command is the operational arm of MTMC and is located at Fort Eustis, Va., with subordinate commands located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

The Military Traffic Management Command is an Army command jointly staffed by Army, Air Force and Navy personnel and a large civilian workforce. (FROM DEPLOYMENT SUPPORT COMMAND, MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).