LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) held a Change of Responsibility Ceremony Tuesday, July 19, on base, as former Commanding General Brig. Gen. John S. Regan said goodbye to WSMR and its supporting communities, including Las Cruces.

Regan came to WSMR following a year-and-a-half assingment in the Pentagon Headquarters Department of the Army as the Executive Officer to the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs, 6-8.

Regan was at WSMR for two years before taking his new post at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. Aberdeen Proving Grounds are the nation’s oldest proving grounds, established in 1917. It is located in the northeast portion of Maryland in Harford County, on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay.

Responsibility at WSMR has been transferred to Mr. Robert S. Carter, WSMR Director. Carter was selected to the Senior Executive Service in May 2009. As Deputy to the Command/Technical Director of WSMR, Carter is repsonsible for the succesful operation of the largest over-land missitle test range within the Department of Defense.

WSMR conducts more than 500 tests annually with a test mission workforce of approximately 1,800 personnel.

Present at the Change of Responsiblity Ceremony was also Maj. Gen. Genaro J. Dellarocco, Commanding General for the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command.