Centerville grad now a general
Todd Wasmund, CENTERVILLE — a 1985 graduate of Centerville High School, has been appointed to the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army.
Wasmund, who is the 1st Infantry Division’s deputy commanding officer for support, received his promotion during a special ceremony at the U.S. Army Europe headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany, in early September.
Lt. Gen. Christopher Cavoli said in a statement that Wasmund’s teamwork and effort helped him climb the ranks.
“Your spirit of teamwork and thoughtful approach to leading our key efforts in Eastern Europe make it a very welcome thing indeed that you chose to be promoted with us,” Cavoli said. “For everybody back at Fort Riley (Kansas), thank you very much for consigning to us the honor and the privilege of promoting Col. Wasmund today.”
Cavoli added that being promoted to the rank of general officer is a privilege and a burden.
“They say that the densest and heaviest form of matter is a collapsed star. I don’t agree with that,” he said. “The heaviest form of matter is what you’re about to put on your shoulder – that single star. You will hold the lives — the welfare of soldiers, sergeants, and officers — in your hands, and you will do so directly and personally, responsible to the American people. It’s a very profound move. Welcome to the ranks of the general officer.”
Wasmund assumed responsibilities of DCO-S in May at Fort Riley, Kan., and then in July deployed to Poznan in support of the Atlantic Resolve mission.
Wasmund said he has learned what leadership means while serving in the Army. His wife, Tracy Wasmund, and his mother, Barbara Sooy, along with his brother, Greg Wasmund, were in attendance at his ceremony.
“I’ve learned that leadership in the Army is about caring for soldiers and their families,” he said. “Tracy and I have been so blessed to serve in such remarkable units with so many remarkable soldiers and families, and they are the reason we are here, and we’re grateful to all of them.”