Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras –
Army Support Activity, Soto Cano Air Base welcomed a new senior enlisted leader to their command team May 18, 2018 during a change of responsibility ceremony on base.
Command Sergeant Major Audie Person, a Jackson, Tennessee native, took over responsibility of the installation after Command Sgt. Major Edgar Fuentes completed his tenure at Soto Cano.
“Command Sgt. Major Fuentes was my battle buddy through it all and I can’t imagine having had a better partner to experience both the ups and the downs that we went through this year,” said Col. Megan Gumpf, ASA commander, during her speech at the ceremony. “He is a tremendous leader and a skilled manager of multiple simultaneous tasks with extremely limited resources,” said Gumpf about Fuentes.
This time of the year is always bitter sweet for the Soto Cano community since many of the units rotate leadership and personnel during this time.
“No transition would be complete without the Army sending us another high quality Command Sergeant Major ready to lead,” said Gumpf. “Command Sgt. Major Person comes to us with a wealth of leadership experience and a fantastic reputation.”
Person has attended every level of training within the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System and is graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. His multiple awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge.
“I like the selfless service. I’m the type of person that likes being out in the dirt doing the Soldier thing - that’s why I joined the Army,” said Person.
Person has been in the service for 28 years and joined the Army in August of 1989, reenlisting in 1993 to attend Armor Crewman One Station Unit Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His last assignment was as Command Sergeant Major for the 188th Infantry Brigade at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
“Soto Cano is a good base. There are a lot of activities going on thanks to our wonderful MWR. The people are very friendly, especially the local nationals who are willing to get you incorporated into their culture and environment," said Person. “I feel good, still learning, trying to get my hands wrapped around stuff but everyday learning something new.”
Soto Cano currently hosts hundreds of service members from all across the armed forces and is an installation that is constantly growing in needs. Person’s goals during his tenure include completing the removal of all the wooden structures and replacing them for hardened infrastructures to mitigate the housing challenges that Soto Cano currently faces.
“We are expecting to see a lot more established infrastructure. Some of the current infrastructure is a little dated after being here for more than 30 years but we are working towards improving that,” said Person. “My expectation is to support Soto Cano life with the limited resources that we have in the best possible way.”
ASA was established at Soto Cano in 2008 to provide expeditionary base operations support to Joint Task Force-Bravo and other tenant units and organizations, maintaining facilities and services so that unit commanders can focus on their mission.
“We want you to feel like you’re at home - that this place where you go to work, where you live and enjoy your time is a great place to be,” said Person.