DEOMI assumption of command

Lt. Gen. Michael Linnington, Military Deputy to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, left, and Army Col. Reese Turner, stand at attention during the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute assumption of command ceremony June 27, 2014, at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Matthew Jurgens)

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West Point graduate assumes command of DEOMI

Published July 1, 2014
By Bryan Ripple
Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute Public Affairs Officer

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Army Col. Reese Turner assumed command of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, during an assumption of command ceremony June 27, 2014, at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.

Army Lt. Gen. Michael Linnington, Military Deputy to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, presided over the ceremony.

Turner is the 15th military commandant to lead the Defense Department's Center of Excellence for human relations education, training, and research. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1988, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering and was commissioned a field artillery officer. He also earned a Master's of Organizational Management Degree from the University of Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1999, and a Master's in National Security and Strategic Studies Degree from the Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 2013.

"I cannot think of a better leader to carry DEOMI further into the 21st century," said Linnington.

"My commitment to you all is that we will remain focused on organizing, training and equipping this command to continue to provide world-class training, education, and human relations research services to all of our students, customers, and stakeholders." Turner said. "We must, and we will be prepared to transform ourselves by any means necessary to meet the challenges of the day. I look forward to accomplishing this mission together, with you."

Turner redeployed to the U.S. in May from a turbulent and challenging assignment in Iraq where he served at the Baghdad Embassy as the Chief of the Army Section for Office Security Cooperation-Iraq. His 27-year career includes duties in key command and staff positions in Germany; multiple assignments at Fort Sill, Okla.; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Alexandria, Va., and Fort Knox, Ky. From June 2006 to June 2008, then Lt. Col. Turner commanded the 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, deploying rotational firing batteries to Afghanistan in support of Joint Special Operations Command for two years.

DEOMI assumption of command