Wiesbaden, Germany – Major General Stephen J. Maranian relinquished command of the 56th Artillery Command (56th AC) to Brigadier General Andrew C. Gainey during a ceremony on July 11, 2023, at Clay Kaserne.   

  

“The 56th Artillery Command and 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force have grown from a concept into tangible combat power in just 21 short months. The Soldiers from these formations have literally built the preverbal airplane while in flight. They have worked crazy hours, endured home station deployments, applied ingenuity and creativity to solve wicked problems, and forged a reputation in our Army, the Joint Force, and around the NATO Alliance for the capabilities we bring to the battlefield,” said MG Maranian.  

  

Under MG Maranian’s leadership, the 56th Artillery Command supported several United States Army Europe and Africa multinational exercises and operations, including Defender Europe, Allied Spirit, and Atlantic Resolve. The 56th AC also led Dynamic Front 22 and Dynamic Front 23, the premier US-led NATO and partner-integrated exercise focused on achieving interoperability of multinational fires.   

  

BG Gainey was commissioned as a Field Artillery officer at the University of South Carolina. Throughout his career, he has commanded troops at both the Brigade and Battalion level, with notable commands including Commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Riley, Kansas, Deputy Commanding General (Maneuver) of the 1st Infantry Division, and Commander of the 17th Field Artillery Brigade (HIMARS) at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington. BG Gainey has also had the honor of leading Soldiers in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

  

“I’m fired up today. Words cannot express how humbled and honored I am to lead the 56th Artillery Command, a formation filled with incredibly talented leaders and incredibly talented Soldiers with tremendous skill sets that give us the significant capability to win decisively in any battle space at any time. I look forward to building upon the legacy of this extraordinary unit,” said BG Gainey. 

The 56th Artillery Command serves as the Force Field Artillery HQ (FFA HQ), the senior Fire Support Element for USAREUR-AF, and is responsible for setting the theater for surface-delivered fires and enabling effects.   

  

To learn more about the 56th Artillery Command, visit:  

  

Website: https://www.56ac.army.mil/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USArmy56AC   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/56ArtilleryCmd