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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
McAAP gets a new commander
McAlester Army Ammunition Plant has a new commander. Col. Gabriel W. Pryor relinquished command to Col. Curtis S. Perkins in the change of command ceremony at the McAlester base Wednesday. 'This change in command marks more than a transition of leadership,' Pryor said. 'It's a moment to reflect on our journey here, to honor the team and to recognize the strength that lives in this installation and its people.' McAlester Army Ammunition Plant is the Department of Defense premier bomb and warhead-loading facility. It supplies about one-third of munitions across the Department of Defense. The plant delivers thousands of Mark 84 2,000-pound bombs, M11 artillery rounds, 105 artillery rounds and more. McAAP is one of 14 Joint Munitions Command installations and one of 23 organic industrial bases under U.S. Army Materiel Command. It is the site of production, storage, distribution and demilitarization. Officials said armies historically use a flag or other symbol to serve as a rallying point under which their soldiers would gather before combat and reorganize during battle. The passing of the colors during the change of command ceremony symbolizes the original purpose and represents the official transfer of command. Brig. Gen. Daniel J. Duncan opened the Change of Command ceremony. He thanked McAAP's community partners and elected leaders, thanked Pryor's family for their support and thanked Pryor for his service. 'It just shows how much he takes care of people and not just the mission,' Duncan said about Pryor's leadership and his priority of McAAP employees' safety. Pryor was commissioned in May 1999 as a Second Lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps from the Army ROTC program at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington. He earned a Master of Policy Management from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington. He held several positions in his military career, including Distribution Branch Chief, Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commander and Joint Planner, USTRANSCOM, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, 2015-2017; Battalion Commander, 47th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, Division G4, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, 2018-2021; and McAlester Army Ammunition Plant Commander, McAlester, Oklahoma, 2023-2025. Pryor earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, and a Master of Policy Management from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Pryor's military education includes the Ordnance Officer Basic Course, Combined Logistics Captains Career Course, and more. His awards and achievements include the Bronze Star Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (bronze campaign star), Iraq Campaign Medal (4 campaign stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3 numerals), Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation (3 Oak Leaf Clusters) and Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge. Over the last two years, McAAP has met 100% of their delivery days. The depo operation has experienced the least amount of accidents and injuries than it has in the last 10 years, according to the McAAP 'These accomplishments that I'm telling you about, these are not a commander's success. This is a team's success,' Pryor said. He thanked the men and women of McAAP for teaching him about leadership, grit and excellence. 'This was not just a duty. It was a blessing,' he said. Perkins was commissioned in December 1999 as a Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster branch from the Army ROTC program at South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, South Carolina. He has earned a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Master of Arts in procurement and acquisition management from Webster University, and a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering technology from South Carolina State University. Perkins has served in many positions during his lengthy military career, including Assistant Brigade Logistics Officer and Forward Support Company Commander, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Hood, Texas; Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Deputy Support Operations officer, 404th Division Aviation Support Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado; S3 Operations Officer, and Brigade Resource Manager, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas; Brigade Support Operations Officer and Executive Officer, 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, Fort Stewart, Georgia; and Plans Chief, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, and more. His military education includes Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Combined Logistics Captain's Career Course, Army School of Advanced Military Studies, Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. His awards and achievements include the Legion of Merit (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters) and Joint Service Commendation Medal. Perkins thanked the McAlester community for coming together to make this possible. He said he appreciates the community he has been brought to serve and said he will be the best commander he can to support the community and McAAP. 'Our mission remains instrumental to national defense, and I'm proud to serve with this dedicated team,' Perkins said.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Ocean Ingleside Lions Club to Celebrate 40th Anniversary With Juneteenth Tribute and BBQ Event
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - June 20, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - The Ocean Ingleside Lions Club, the first African American Lions Club chartered in District 4C-4, proudly announces its 40th Anniversary Celebration, taking place on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 12 PM to 4 PM at Mission Playground Clubhouse located at 19 Linda Street in the city of San Francisco. The BBQ event will be held in conjunction with the Juneteenth holiday to honor the club's legacy and its founding members, to install the incoming 2025-26 officers and to induct new members. Founded on June 7, 1985, the Ocean Ingleside Lions Club has served the Ingleside and greater San Francisco community for four decades. This year's celebration will also pay tribute to beloved past President Lion Connie Bridgewater, who passed away in August 2024. In her memory, the club is continuing its mission under the leadership of Incoming President Charlene Henderson, Connie Bridgewater's sister and the club's Interim Vice President. 'This milestone is not just about our history - it's about our future,' said Henderson. 'We are honoring our past while recommitting to our mission of service. We invite all fellow Lions and community members to join us for a soul food backyard BBQ and a heartfelt celebration of our club's impact.' Tickets are $45 a person and include food, music, a tribute, and community fellowship. Attendees are encouraged to bring a friend and meet the club's incoming officers. How to Support: Funds raised will go toward supporting the club's ongoing service projects and preserving the legacy of Lion Connie Bridgewater. For more information or to make a contribution, please contact Lion Charlene Henderson below. Contact: Lion Charlene Henderson Incoming 2025-26 President Ocean Ingleside Lions Club [email protected] View the original release on
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Queer Motherland group aims to create safe space for LGBTQ+ Black Americans and Africans
A UCLA study finds that 1.2 million Americans identify as both Black and LGBTQ+, a growing community that often faces unique challenges. In response, a new organization is working to create safe spaces for queer Africans in both North Texas and across the globe. Personal journey inspires advocacy Olive Okoro, a Nigerian immigrant, knew she was queer from a young age but didn't come out until high school. When she did, her family responded with openness and a willingness to learn. "My family said, 'You know what, let's change it. Let's learn about what she is talking about,' and I honestly, really appreciate that about my parents," Okoro said. Group promotes queer African identity Okoro went on to found Queer Motherland, a group for Black LGBTQ+ individuals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond. "It is a LGBTQ+ African group where we promote queer Africans around the diaspora, and we teach the knowledge and the education about how colonization has affected queer Africans' entire history," she said. Social media growth and first events The group has already gained thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram and has applied for nonprofit status. Its first event, held in partnership with the Dallas Black Queer Collective at the Dallas Public Library, featured queer African literature and community discussions. Global board reflects international mission Queer Motherland's board includes members from Dallas, Houston, Chicago, London, and Ghana. One board member in Ghana, who asked to remain anonymous, shared the risks of being openly queer in a country where homosexuality is criminalized. "I live carefully to not step on the wrong foot and not to get myself in trouble," she said. Facing criminalization across Africa According to Amnesty International, 31 of Africa's 54 countries criminalize LGBTQ+ identities. Penalties range from prison time to the death penalty in countries like Mauritania, Sudan, northern Nigeria, and southern Somalia. "There is a lot to fight since it's not acceptable where we're from," the board member said. "Everyone is trying to put us in prison, lynch us, or kill us." A vision for global connection Despite the risks, Queer Motherland is pushing forward with a vision to expand globally. Okoro hopes to one day host an international conference featuring queer African speakers from around the world. "Our goal for Queer Motherland is to one day have a conference where we bring multiple speakers from different countries who are queer and African," she said. Empowering identity and visibility For Okoro and her team, the mission is about more than safety—it's about empowerment, education, and representation. "I want to have positive representation of queer Africans," Okoro said. "I want to use the opportunity to say, we are here, we are queer, and we're never, ever going to go anywhere."
