Maj. Gen. (P) Gary Volesky, a native of Washington and a graduate of Eastern Washington University, will assume command of I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Monday, April 3.

Before the change of command ceremony, he will be promoted to lieutenant general.

Volesky's most recent command was the 101st Airborne Division. His official biography states that he is "an infantry officer who has commanded soldiers at all levels up to division."

Under his command, the 101st Airborne Division deployed twice as the Joint Forces Headquarters during Operation United Assistance in Liberia, and as the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command-Operation Inherent Resolve.

The division also became the first Army division to complete the Multi-Component Unit transition, combining active-duty and reservist soldiers as a singular unit to deploy in support of contingency operations around the world.

Prior to commanding the 101st, Volesky served as the Army's chief of public affairs in Washington, D.C.  

Relinquishing command will be Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza.

Lanza announced his retirement Thursday during an interview with local reporters.  He plans to stay in the South Sound area for now.

I Corps, the only regionally aligned unit of the Army's three corps, supports the Pacific region.  

Under his leadership, Lanza led numerous capacity-building exercises and security force assistance operations across the Asia-Pacific region.  He has also reinstituted an emphasis on basic infantry training.

As the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq ended, Lanza began an extensive community involvement program with local leaders.

Through personal interactions with area and state officials, Lanza introduced civilians to upcoming Army training requests in order to garner support.

As retired Maj. Gen. James Collins, former I Corps deputy commander observed, "The key to relationships is trust, and the key to trust is communication."

Lanza built that trust to unprecedented levels.

As Lakewood Mayor Don Anderson noted, Lanza began showing up at community events, sometimes immediately upon return from overseas.

"He'll come see us before he goes home to see his wife," Anderson explained.

Lanza's outreach efforts have also extended to area businesses and academic institutions.  These attempts have yielded several forums at the University of Washington-Tacoma where senior diplomats debate Pacific Rim foreign policy with academics and military personnel.

This has led to UW professors working with JBLM officials to reduce suicides and sexual assaults.  Lanza has said these trends threaten both the Army and universities.

The change of command ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Watkins Field or in Soldiers Field House, depending on weather.