FORT BARFOOT, Va. –
Lt. Col. Eric Quinn assumed command of Fort Barfoot from Col. James C. Shaver Jr. during a change of command ceremony Feb. 1, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia.
Brig. Gen. Charles B. Martin Jr., commander of the Virginia Army National Guard, presided over the exchange of colors signifying the transfer of command from Shaver to Quinn. Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Mendel, the Fort Barfoot command sergeant major, was the keeper of the colors. The 29th Infantry Division Band provided music during the ceremony.
“Lt. Col. Quinn, congratulations on your selection to this command,” said Martin. “It’s a challenging assignment, and I’m so proud you’ve been selected for this opportunity. Your proven leadership and experience gained in command and key staff assignments over the course of your career have prepared you well for this opportunity.”
Quinn most recently served as the Supply & Services Division chief for the G4 Logistics Directorate. He previously served three years as the officer in charge of the G6 Information Technology Directorate. Quinn also served as the surface maintenance manager and Fort Barfoot Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site superintendent, both in the G4.
Quinn said he’s excited for the opportunity, and thanked Shaver for his efforts as commander.
“I am extremely happy to be the Fort Barfoot garrison commander,” Quinn said. “I will work hard as the garrison commander, and plan to do a good job for the Virginia National Guard. Col. Shaver, I appreciate your hard work with MTC, and setting me up for success. Your efforts will be hard to match.”
Shaver has served as the garrison commander since 2022, and has worked at Fort Barfoot in various directorates for more than two decades. His next duty assignment is as the G1 deputy chief of staff for personnel.
“I have a saying that goes, ‘It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you,’” said Shaver during his remarks at the ceremony. “Well, I want people to know Fort Barfoot. I want people to come and utilize Fort Barfoot. I want to make the facilities available to them and for installation staff to provide outstanding customer support to keep them coming back. And that’s what we do. We don’t do it to make money. We don’t do for praise and popularity. We do it because we are patriotic and proud, and to prepare America’s warfighters and other partners for the pursuit of national security interests at home and abroad.”
“Col. Shaver, I want to recognize your accomplishments from your time as commander,” said Martin during his remarks. “You’ve been extraordinarily successful at not only strengthening partnerships, but also in mentoring and developing leaders across the formation. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to duty.”
Quinn addressed the many federal, state and military employees who help make Fort Barfoot an elite training center.
“To the staff of the Maneuver Training Center, I would like to say thank you for what you all do for the military,” said Quinn. “It is not always easy. I look forward to working with you over the next few years with all of the challenges and hurdles to overcome.”
Shaver also thanked his staff for their hard work over the last three years, and added some departing advice for the incoming commander.
“I don’t need to recite a list of the things we accomplished together, the things still underway, or things we have coming in the near future,” said Shaver. “What I will do is challenge the incoming commander and his staff to continue to improve the facilities and infrastructure; assess operations and modify procedures and policies to reflect the needs of the post, its people, and the public we serve; and lastly, consider some of the projects that I envisioned, but hadn’t put into action yet.”
Retired Lt. Col. Tom Barfoot, son of the installation’s namesake, Col. Van T. Barfoot, was in attendance for the change of command.
Fort Barfoot sits on about 41,000 acres and is operated by the Virginia National Guard, which took control of the post in 1997. Built during World War II and originally named Camp Pickett, It features a combination of open-terrain and wooded maneuver areas, more than 20 ranges capable of training on nearly every Army weapons system, a rail spur and a C-17 capable airfield. It also boasts a forward operating base, multiple training villages and a Combined Arms Collective Training Facility, Fort Barfoot’s urban operations training facility. The installation’s primary customer is the Virginia National Guard, but also regularly hosts units from other states and services.
Read more about Fort Barfoot at https://vngpao.info/2p8kwcw6.