In a formal ceremony, Col. Benjamin Kilgore has stepped into his new role as the leader of Tobyhanna Army Depot, succeeding Col. James L. Crocker. This transition marks a significant moment for the depot, which plays a crucial role in supporting U.S. Armed Forces operations worldwide.
Col. James L. Crocker, who previously held the position, will now be moving to a new post within the Army Materiel Command’s G-3. This change was announced in an official release and marks a new chapter for both officers.
The ceremony was overseen by Maj. Gen. James D. Turinetti IV, commanding general of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. The event was attended by numerous stakeholders, including depot staff, local officials, and families of both Crocker and Kilgore.
Kilgore expressed his commitment to his new role by saying, “I am honored to serve as Tobyhanna’s 36th commander. Across the Department of Defense, Tobyhanna is known as a community of dedicated professionals who ensure that our joint force remains mission ready.”
Bringing a wealth of experience, Kilgore previously served as the chief of staff at Defense Logistics Agency Energy. His academic credentials include a master of arts in strategic studies from the Army War College, and master’s degrees in higher education administration and managerial logistics from the University of Louisville and North Dakota State University, respectively. Before his tenure at the Army War College, he was the assistant chief of staff G4 for Joint Modernization Command at Fort Bliss, Texas, under Army Futures Command.
3,100 Employees Drive Tobyhanna’s Global Impact
Located on 1,200 acres in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County, the Tobyhanna Army Depot employs 3,100 people. It offers critical equipment and technical support to all branches of the U.S. military, various government entities, and allied nations. According to a report by WVIA, the depot manages a workload of approximately $500 million annually.
The depot is recognized as the Department of Defense’s Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for a wide range of technologies including Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR), electronics, avionics, and missile guidance and control. Its microelectronics lab is a groundbreaking addition to the Army Organic Industrial Base, as highlighted by WVIA’s coverage.
Reflecting on his tenure, Crocker remarked, “At Tobyhanna, we ensure C5ISR readiness for warfighters worldwide. Our accomplishments, over the past two years, while important for us as an organization, were all aimed at delivering key warfighting capabilities at speed and scale.”
With the opening of the microelectronics facility, Tobyhanna has positioned itself as the sole organic supplier of circuit card assemblies for military operations, reducing dependency on foreign electronics components. This sentiment was echoed by Army officials during the facility’s unveiling, as noted in an Army release.
Col. Kilgore emphasized these priorities, stating, “As we look ahead, Team Tobyhanna will continue to drive forward in alignment with CECOM’s (U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command) top priorities — particularly in supporting the Army’s transformation strategy and enhancing readiness across the joint force. From sustaining and upgrading C5ISR systems to advancing capabilities in microelectronics, our work ensures that the joint force remains lethal, agile and technologically superior.”
