Leaders
The Army operates one of the most diverse military posts in the world, right here in Central Virginia.
Garrison Commander
Colonel Adam W. Butler
Colonel Adam W. Butler, who hails from San Antonio, Texas, assumed command of U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Lee, Virginia on July 29, 2016. He began his Army career in 1983 and his first duty assignment as an enlisted Infantryman was with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was then assigned to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where he completed Drill Instructor Training. Upon completion of his enlisted commitment, he attended the University of Texas, San Antonio, and earned a Bachelor of Business in Information Systems degree. He later attained a Science in Management Master’s Degree from Troy University, Alabama.
Colonel Butler received his U.S. Army commission in 1992, at which time he was commissioned as a Finance Officer. He first served as the Chief of Disbursing, Pay and Exam, 10th Finance Support Unit and D/208th Finance Battalion, Vicenza, Italy. He then commanded HHD & C/176th Finance Battalion, South Korea, and A/15th Finance Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas. After those command stints, he served as the S3 for the 230th Finance Battalion (Forward), Bosnia Herzegovina where he was selected for the Training with Industry program at the Armed Forces Bank at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Upon completing TWI, Colonel Butler was assigned to the 266th Finance Command, Germany as the Banking and Credit Union Officer for U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army. He next served at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as the Support Operations Officer and Commander, 101st Finance, 101st Soldier Support Battalion. Following graduation from Command and General Staff College in 2008, Colonel Butler served as the Chief, Centrally Managed Programs, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Afterward, he commanded the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division Special Troops Battalion and served as the 1st Armored Division G8, Fort Bliss, Texas.
Upon graduation from the Naval War College with a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies, Colonel Butler was assigned to the Army Staff as the Deputy Director, Resource Integration, Deputy Chief of Staff, G2. Colonel Butler last served as the United States Forces-Afghanistan, Director, J8.
Colonel Butler's awards and certifications include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Korea Defense Service Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge, Parachutists Badge, Honduran Parachutist Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge and the Drill Instructor Badge.
Deputy to the Garrison Commander, U. S. Army Garrison
Melissa S. Magowan
Melissa Magowan serves as the Deputy to the Garrison Commander, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Lee, Virginia. In this capacity, she exercises executive leadership, provides policy and programmatic oversight to a broad range of installation programs, and represents the commander in his absence. She is responsible for managing day-to-day base operations for the installation and for providing administrative program direction to directors and special staff in finance, logistics, police and fire services, information technology, housing, engineering and environmental programs, operations and force protection, community activities, family programs, strategic planning, and human resources.
Prior to this assignment, Ms. Magowan served as Deputy to the Garrison Commander, Fort Monroe, VA, from 2006-2009, where she managed installation operations supporting Headquarters (HQ), Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), U.S. Army Accessions Command, U.S. Army Cadet Command, Joint Task Force Civil Support, and Installation Management Command, Atlantic Region. She also managed the Base Realignment and Closure process for the garrison as it transitioned to base closure.
Previously, Ms. Magowan was the Director of Integration for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Infrastructure, and Logistics for HQ TRADOC. As such, she developed command positions and strategic issues on installation management for the Commanding General and served as the command liaison for family and well-being policies.
Ms. Magowan was formerly the Chief of Operations for Installation Management support in TRADOC. She led installation management strategic planning, development of command quality standards, performance management, and writing of Army installation doctrine. She also served as a Plans Analyst in the Office of the Chief of Staff, HQ TRADOC, and in a variety of Resource Management positions.
Ms. Magowan began her federal career in 1984, having earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University and a Master of Science Degree from Jacksonville State University. Since that time, she has held a number of progressively responsible positions with the Army at Fort McClellan, AL, Fort Lee, VA, and Fort Monroe, VA. She is a 1990 graduate of the Army Staff Management College, where she was awarded a Certificate of Achievement as a most outstanding graduate in academic achievement, initiative, and leadership. In addition to her outstanding performance awards, Ms. Magowan is a recipient of the Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, and the Superior Civilian Service Award, and of the Vice President’s Hammer Award as part of the National Performance Review. She is a member of the International City Managers Association and the Association of the United States Army.
Garrison Command Sergeant Major
Command Sergeant Major Clarence D. Richardson
Command Sgt. Maj. Clarence D. Richardson enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 7, 1987. He attended basic combat training at Fort Dix, N.J., and advanced individual training at Fort Lee, Va., as a Petroleum Supply Specialist (then 77-Foxtrot, now 92-Foxtrot).
CSM Richardson has served in numerous leadership positions and assignments throughout his career. They include: squad leader, 9th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky.; S-4 Class III NCOIC, HHC, 4/27th Field Artillery, Babenhausen, Germany; POL platoon sergeant, HHC, 4th Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.; personnel sergeant, HHD, 68th Combat Support Battalion, Fort Carson; senior drill sergeant, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 46th Infantry, Fort Knox, Ky.; section chief, Petroleum and Water Department, 262nd Quartermaster Battalion, Fort Lee; small group leader, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Fort Lee; senior small group leader, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Fort Lee; first sergeant, Bravo Co., 266th QM Bn., Fort Lee; first sergeant, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Fort Lee; first sergeant, HHC, 240th QM Bn., 49th QM Group, Fort Lee; S-3 NCOIC, HHC, STB, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, Fort Stewart, Ga.; Sustainment Warrior Field Training Exercise sergeant major, HHC, 23rd QM Brigade, Fort Lee; command sergeant major, 244th QM Bn., FT. Lee; and command sergeant major, 6th Bn., 353rd Regiment, 162nd Infantry Bde., Fort Polk, La.
CSM Richardson’s military education includes: Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course, First Sergeants Course, United States Sergeant’s Major Academy (Class 59), Air Assault Course, Drill Sergeant Course, Master Fitness Course, Equal Opportunity Course, Combat Life Savers Course, National Training Center O/C Course, Battalion Intel/Ops Course, Hazmat Certification Course, Commanders Safety Course, Cadre Certification Course, Information Assurance Certification Course, Battalion Pre-Command Course and the Command Sergeant’s Major Developmental Course.
CSM Richardson’s civilian education includes: Associates Degree in Applied Management from Central Texas College, Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University, and a Master’s of Science Degree in Human Resource Management from Columbia Southern University.
CSM Richardson’s military awards include: Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1 SLC), Army Commendation Medal (1 SLC), Army Achievement Medal (1 SLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (8th Award), National Defense Service Medal /with Bronze Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, South West Asia (2BSS), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 4), Volunteer Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon(Number 3), Saudi Arabia Liberation Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Air Assault Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, and Driver Badge. He was awarded the Honorable Order of St. Martin and has been a long time member of both the prestigious Sergeant Morales and Sergeant Audie Murphy Clubs.
