ALEXANDRIA, Va., (USTCNS) --- The Army officer who led the creation and development of the Military Traffic Management Command Operations Center at Fort Eustis, Va., has retired.

Brig. Gen. Barbara Doornink retired in a ceremony Sept. 30, in Springfield, Va., ending a 30-year military career.

Doornink was assigned to MTMC's Fort Eustis headquarters Aug. 3, 2001. In her initial assignment, she served as Commanding General of the Deployment Support Command. Within weeks of her arrival, she was named MTMC's Deputy Commanding General/Director of Operations. In the latter position, Doornink managed and led the transition of the MTMC subordinate command headquarters to the organization's global operations center.

"It's tough to say goodbye," said Doornink. "How do you say goodbye to the Army?"

Doornink said she regarded her role in the transition of the MTMC Operations Center to Fort Eustis as a professional and personal highpoint of her career.

"What a great way to retire!" said Doornink. "I think we're all the better for the experience."

Doornink drew praise from Maj. Gen. Ann Dunwoody, MTMC Commanding General.

"The constant is courage and conviction," said Dunwoody. "She has touched thousands in the Army with her teaching, coaching and mentoring.

"There is nothing she can't do."

Maj. Gen. Jeanette Edmunds, Commander, 19th Theater Support Command, Taegu, Korea, co-hosted the retirement. She echoed Dunwoody's praise.

Doornink, said Edmunds, is "a great operator in time of war." She praised Doornink's service in Bosnia in the late 1990s.

"One of her achievements was getting the trains running again. She had to get all three factions working together. First, they would ship military?then commercial. Before long commerce was going again."

Doornink graduated from Washington State University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Her first Army assignment was as a platoon leader in the 104th Transportation Co. (Medium Truck) at Fort Devens, Mass. In later military assignments, Doornink served in Korea, Germany and Croatia.

Immediately prior to her MTMC assignment, Doornink served as Director of Plans, Operations and Logistics Automation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, U.S. Army, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

She is a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.

Doornink will be succeeded by Col. Mark Scheid, who is on the promotion list to brigadier general. Scheid most recently served as Chief, Plans Division, J-4, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.