It's always the end of an era when any unit changes its commander, but a company in 80th Ordnance Battalion only began its transition process last week with a change of command.

Captain Dan Simons relinquished command of 528th Quartermaster Company to Capt. Dan Padilla June 16 during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Lewis North.

For 80th Ord. Bn. Commander Lt. Col. Katherine Graef, Padilla's taking the guidon brings the company one step closer to ending another important chapter in its history. The high-performing 528th Qm. Co. Cobras who made "fuel rodeos" locally famous, mixing field mission requirements with healthy competition, is scheduled for inactivation in September.

"A company of ‘fuelers' are the equivalent of baseball's utility players," Graef said. "They accomplish every mission no matter how diverse."

There are a number of effects of deactivation, she said.

"It means a lot of things, really," Graef said. "It means a loss of capability."

The battalion will still have some fuel capability but the full range of what was provided through 528th Qm. Co. will be gone, she said.

The company took pride in a high standard of excellence as proven by various awards and honors bestowed upon them at Army, I Corps and individual Soldier levels, she said.

On Simon's watch, the 528th Qm. Co. won the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence in 2010, for example, an Armywide competition.

"In short, everything they do, they do with excellence," Graef said.

The company's leadership is to be credited for maintaining and exceeding high standards, she said. "(The leadership) are among the very finest professionals I have ever known."

They may be shelved for now but don't count the Cobras out completely, she said.

"There's still more history in store for this unit," Graef said, reflecting upon future needs and mission demands of the Army. "It's hard to say."

The 80th Ord. Bn. also faces a significant change in the near future, she said.

"We'll become a CSSB - combat sustainment support battalion - this coming October," Graef said. "There's been a strong emphasis on getting our personnel and the unit ready for the transitions."

As an important part of the battalion, the 528th Qm. Co. has built a long and distinguished lineage. The unit was born out of the need to move troops and supplies through vast miles of difficult terrain in support of the Allied invasion of Europe in World War II.

The company was deactivated after World War II and later activated, a process that continued several times before a 20-year hiatus following the Army's troop drawdown toward the end of the Vietnam conflict.

It was again reactivated at Fort Lewis in 1992. The Cobras have supplied fuel and logistical support throughout training and overseas deployments ever since, including deploying personnel to support combat operations in what was called the Global War on Terror. The company received its inactivation orders from the Department of the Army in January 2010.

As he departs, Simons said he looks back on his time with the company fondly.

"It's been one amazing ride for the past 18 months," Simons said. "It's been amazing to see these Soldiers in action."

However, seeing the unit deactivate is a sad event, he said.

"Right now, we're focused on making that transition," Simons said. "A large part of that is making sure the Soldiers and their Families are taken care of."

Some troops will be absorbed into other companies within the battalion, some will PCS, others will ETS and some will be reassigned, he said.

"We've tried to keep as many as possible," Simons said. "Every Soldier is a different situation."

Being associated with the company's illustrious history has been an honor, he said.

"It's kind of another chapter," Simons said. "I don't think (the unit) is going away forever. It will be there when the nation needs it again."

Padilla said although he, too, is sad to see the unit deactivate, he's prepared for the transition.

"It's a big challenge," Padilla said. "Taking care of the Soldiers remains our first and main priority."

In whatever incarnation, 528th Qm. Co. Soldiers will continue to "fuel the force," he said.

"It is truly an honor to take part in the history of this company," Padilla said.

An inactivation and casing ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 15 at the battalion headquarters on Lewis North.

Once cased, 528th Qm. Co.'s colors will be sent to U.S. Forces Command and tucked away for safekeeping.