Umatilla depot gets new commander

This story was published Fri, Jul 27, 2001

By Karen Zacharias
Herald Oregon bureau

UMATILLA - As soon as she saw her father, tow-headed Olivia Pellissier, 3, broke with official military protocol and cried out: "Hi Dada!"

And despite the formality surrounding Thursday's change of command ceremony at the Umatilla Army Depot, Lt. Col. Fred Pellissier, 44, took a moment to return his daughter's greeting.

Then, as the 234th U.S. Army National Guard Band tapped out a beat, Pellissier was installed as the 31st commander of the Umatilla Army Depot. He replaces outgoing commander Lt. Col. Tom Woloszyn, who served at the depot since 1999.

During that time, Woloszyn earned the admiration of folks like Edward and Violet Hall of Hermiston. They came to say goodbye to Woloszyn, his wife, Karen, and their two boys. The family has been reassigned to St. Petersburg, Fla.

"Our colonel is leaving," Violet Hall said. "He's a really neat man."

But not to worry, she said. "We're going to miss Tom, but he assures us this new colonel is a good one too."

Command changeovers are often filled with sorrow and trepidation, said Maj. Gen. John Doesburg.

For the outgoing commander, he said, there's the question of, "Is Umatilla better because I was here?" And for the incoming commander there's the question of, "Am I ready for this?"

Doesburg said Pellissier's background with an emergency response technical escort unit was key to why he was selected for the job. The depot is expected to start incineration of chemical weapons next year.

Pellissier said he feels like he's "drinking from a fire hose" because there's so much information to digest, but he denied having any feelings of trepidation.

"I really feel this is a momentous challenge, but I feel up for the challenge. I'm looking forward to it," he said.

In particular, he said his background as operations manager for the emergency response unit makes him especially well-suited for the job. He said he's dealt with everything from terrorist bombs to chemical munitions.

Pellissier said his priorities as commander are public safety and protection of the environment.

"I want to ensure ... that everything that is done on the depot is done safely," he said.

Noting that his parents live in Warrenton, Ore., and that he has a sister in Seaside, Ore., Pellissier said he's familiar with the issues surrounding the depot. His parents attended Thursday's event, which was also his father's 70th birthday.

Pellissier's wife, Debbie, is an Army reserve military police major.

She was presented with a dozen yellow roses, a symbol of new beginnings for the family. In addition to Olivia, the Pellissiers have two boys, Matthew, 7, and Martin, 4.

 

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