Darlington native takes control of Army Human Resources Command

A Darlington native has assumed command of the Army Human Resources Command-St. Louis (HRC-St. Louis) in a ceremony conducted on the parade field of historic Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Mo.

Field Artillery officer Col. Louis B. Wingate is the last HRC-St. Louis commander. The organization will relocate to the Human Resources Center of Excellence at Fort Knox, Ky., in June 2010.

Maj. Gen. Sean J. Byrne, commanding general of Army Human Resources Command, passed the flag to Wingate during the change of command ceremony, which included a “pass in review” by the about 270 soldiers whom Wingate will lead in addition to about 560 Department of the Army civilians.

“I’m proud and humbled by this opportunity to lead the best HR team in the military,” Wingate said. “The soldiers and civilians of Human Resources Command-St. Louis have been taking care of our reserve soldiers for 90 years, and we’ve spent 64 of those years right here in St. Louis.”

The previous commander, Col. Wanda L. Good, retired following 30 years of service. Wingate served as Human Resources Command-St. Louis deputy commander before assuming command.

Wingate is a 1981 graduate of Mayo High School and a 1985 graduate of S.C. State University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He earned and a master’s in management from Webster University.

Contacted by e-mail, Wingate said he joined the Army because “It was always my lifelong dream to serve, to be a soldier and a leader and to give something back to my community.

“I have truly learned from those in my hometown who touched my life as I was growing up and I thank them for mentoring me. I thank my family for everything they have done and I thank my parents for teaching me how to be the man I am today.”

Wingate is the son of Edward and the late Eva Mae O’Neal Wingate. Edward Wingate lives in Darlington. Wingate also has many aunts and uncles living in the Darlington and Florence areas.

Wingate has been in the Army more than 24 years. He was promoted to colonel in September 2007. His military education includes the Army Force Management College, Command and General Staff College and various field artillery qualification courses and Airborne School.

Army Human Resources Command was formed in Oct. 2, 2003, by combining the Army Personnel Command in Alexandria, Va., the Army Reserve Personnel Command in St. Louis, Mo., and the Soldier Record Data Center in Indianapolis, Ind. All three elements will consolidate and relocate to the Human Resources Center of Excellence at Fort Knox in 2010.

Army Human Resources Command provides human resource management functions to better meet the needs of Army soldiers, retirees and veterans.

Among Wingate’s previous assignments are Battalion Maintenance Officer, 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea; assistant professor of military science, University of South Carolina, Columbia; Battalion Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry, Fort Jackson; Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry, Fort Jackson; Brigade Operations Officer and Brigade Executive Officer, 1st Basic Combat Training Brigade, Fort Jackson; and Deputy Commanding Officer, 2nd National Police Transition Team, Operation Iraqi Freedom (two tours).