Lunch with a Fort Knox Leader
2019 Fort Knox Graduation Dates
Basic Camp Graduations at Brooks Field from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
1st Regiment: 22 July
2nd Regiment: 27 July
3rd Regiment: 1 Aug
4th Regiment: 6 Aug
5th Regiment: 11 Aug
6th Regiment: 16 Aug
Advanced Camp Graduations at Brooks Field from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
1st Regiment: 29 Jun
2nd Regiment: 4 July
3rd Regiment: 9 July
4th Regiment: 14 July
5th Regiment: 19 July
6th Regiment: 24 July
7th Regiment: 29 July
8th Regiment: 3 Aug
9th Regiment: 8 Aug
10th Regiment: 13 Aug
11th Regiment: 18 Aug
Fort Knox focusing on civilian workforce development, recruitment efforts
Source: The News-Enterprise
Fort Knox is a gem of the local economy and its new Gemstone program is aimed at building greater skills among its civilian workforce, Jim Iacocca says.
Iacocca, CEO of the Knox Regional Development Alliance, updated area business leaders Tuesday on several recent developments at Fort Knox during the monthly meeting of the Radcliff Small Business Alliance.
He said the U.S. Army Human Resources Command headquartered on post recently created the Gemstone program, which is an in-house professional development program intended to improve the Army civilian workforce.
Through the program, civil service employees strengthen their leadership abilities and skills through interpersonal skills, oral communication, written communication, creativity and innovation, strategic thinking, conflict management, leveraging diversity, team building, decisiveness, problem solving, partnering, and influencing/negotiating, and other transformations stimulating commitment to personal and professional development, according to information from the U.S. Army.
Iacocca also said the Department of Defense is considering acquiring Kentucky subterranean mines that could be used as training facilities, which could come under the arm of Fort Knox depending on their vicinity. Iacocca did not name the mines being considered.
He said Fort Knox also is looking to build a new water tower, but the plan is on hold because the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration disagree on the type of radar that needs to be at Godman Airfield. Iacocca said Godman could lose one-third of its approachability if a new water tower is built on Fort Knox without proper radar.
He also referenced recent recruiting efforts the Army is pursuing, including using social media and e-gaming to reach younger audiences.
The Knox Regional Development Alliance is a private organization established to promote and support Fort Knox’s mission. It is directed by a local board and maintains an office in Radcliff.
Telling the Fort Knox story in D.C.
Investor Annual Meeting
KRDA honors Retired Maj. Gen. Bill Barron for Service to Organization, Community
First Annual meeting of investors highlights KRDA’s efforts, Fort Knox’s positive position
The Knox Regional Development Alliance (KRDA) honored retired Maj. Gen. Bill Barron at the organization’s first annual meeting of investors today. KRDA board chairman Ray Springsteen called Barron a tremendous leader who was pivotal in the establishment of the organization that is charged with protecting and promoting Fort Knox.
“General Barron’s steadfast leadership in establishing KRDA and as the longtime executive director of the CORE Committee has been instrumental in protecting this region’s most significant economic engine – Fort Knox,” said Springsteen. “Today we take a moment to express our gratitude for General Barron’s contributions to this organization and most importantly to our community.”
In 2016, Barron oversaw the KRDA capital campaign. In 2017, he served as the newly established organization’s interim CEO, leading the search for a permanent senior executive. When the board selected retired Brig. Gen. Jim Iacocca for that position, Barron then served as KRDA’s vice president for army affairs throughout 2018.
Springsteen said in addition to helping the region’s economy continue to prosper, Barron has demonstrated an unmatched commitment to soldiers and their families, always lending his expert counsel to the various community endeavors in support of them.
“I call it an affair of the heart,” said Barron. “I love this community and our soldiers. It has been an honor to serve both.”
Barron said the community’s long-standing support to Fort Knox soldiers and families was why KRDA nominated the region to be designated a 2018 Great American Defense Community (GADC). When the Association of Defense Communities (ADC) selected the Greater Fort Knox Region as one of only five in the nation, Barron said, he couldn’t have been prouder.
“I was thrilled to shine a national spotlight on the region,” said Barron. “A welcoming and supportive community is critical to ensuring military installations retain and grow their missions. I knew this community was among the best in the nation and this recognition confirms that in a big way.”
Barron was part of a delegation of community leaders who attended ADC’s national summit in Washington, D.C. this past summer where the 2018 GADC communities were honored.
Iacocca expressed his appreciation for Barron’s years of service and shared that Barron will continue to serve the organization in a volunteer capacity on the KRDA board of directors.
“Our nation benefited from General Barron’s 38 years of military service, and this region has been the beneficiary of his extraordinary community service for the past 15 years,” said Iacocca. “I was privileged to have General Barron by my side during my first year on the job as we worked to protect and promote Fort Knox and grow defense-related business in our region.”
During the annual meeting, Iacocca also shared highlights of KRDA’s work in 2018 that put Fort Knox in a better position for growth.
He pointed out the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that allows Fort Knox to tout its successful energy resilience efforts and provides $26 million in funding for the digitization of Fort Knox’s Yano Range, the first phase of a $52 million project.
Iacocca worked closely with state and federal officials to add the language about Fort Knox’s energy program.
“Fort Knox’s world-class energy resilience efforts makes it more attractive for growth, most especially for data and cyber security missions,” said Iaccoca. “With the 2018 NDAA, Fort Knox has greater latitude to promote its energy program and KRDA will certainly do so as well.”
Iaccoca thanked the investors for their support to KRDA.
“Your commitment to this work speaks volumes,” said Iacocca. “It sends a strong message to the Department of Defense and our elected leaders that this community takes the future of Fort Knox seriously. I am excited about our continued progress in the coming year.”