It’s a change of command, not a change of direction. Those were the words of the major general who took command of Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division on Friday.

What You Need To Know

  • Major General Scott Naumann took command of the 10th Mountain Division during a ceremony on post Friday 

  • Naumann reviously served as a brigade commander with the 10th Mountain

  • He takes over for Major General Gregory Anderson, who has been assigned to command the XVIII Airborne Corps, which happens to command the 10th Mountain Division

“The division's got to continue to get ready. We've taken steps. We've got a ways to go. We've got to get lighter, leaner,” outgoing 10th Mountain Division Commanding General, Major General Gregory Anderson said.

That was the message from Anderson as he officially turned over the reins of the division to Major General Scott Naumann on Friday.

“At the end of the day, the soldiers, the families and the civilians in this place and the community, it's so special,” Naumann said.

“He's just going to take it to the next level. Hopefully, we just got to the ground prepared for him to take it and springboard off it,” Anderson added.

Naumann may believe that Anderson's role was a bit bigger than that.

“I’ll come in and I'll make some assessments. But I think what you'll see is we're going to change command, but won't change direction,” Naumann said of Anderson’s two years at the helm.

He understands the monumental task ahead as brigades from across the division prepare to deploy to the Middle East and Europe.

“What makes this division special is that it's a blue-collar division, so whatever the threats are, whatever the challenges are of the day, the soldiers, the civilians that make up this division, they just meet the challenge head on,” Naumann said.

One thing that will make the transition just a little bit easier for Naumann is familiarity.

It was just six years ago when he was stationed on Fort Drum, leading the division's 1st Brigade Combat Team.

“I think we've got an incredible training facility here, and the area is protected and community knows how important it is for us to maintain these training facilities here,” Naumann said, adding that knowing the people, both on and off post, is a massive advantage to taking on this role.

There's also one other thing.

If Naumann ever needs to talk with someone, get some advice, well, he can look right to Anderson, whose new job is leading the 18th Airborne Corps, which, by the way, happens to command the 10th Mountain Division.

In other words, Anderson will be Naumann’s new boss.

“He has a awesome understanding of where we are as an organization, where we are as an installation and where we're headed."

Anderson said he is thrilled for the opportunity to come back to Fort Drum to visit and support Naumann in whatever he needs.

Fort Drum’s Combat Aviation Brigade is currently preparing to head overseas. It is expected to spend the next nine months in the Middle East.