Farnsworth becomes nation's newest one-star general

For family and friends of Jeffrey A. Farnsworth, a former Vergennes-area resident, it was a moment of great pride—pride too hard to put into plain words. On March 13, Farnsworth, who graduated from Vergennes Union High School in 1981, became a one-star general in the U.S. Army. According to military spokesman Scott Andreae of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command & Army Forces Strategic Command Strategic Initiatives Group, Farnsworth was promoted to brigadier general at a special ceremony held at the Pentagon. Farnsworth's wife, Gabriele, affectionately known as Gaby, parents and Mann pinned on his new stars, Andreae noted. The one-star general's parents, Carol and Allen Farnsworth, live in Waltham. Farnsworth received the general's star as the deputy commanding general for operations at U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command based in Colorado. Farnsworth also provides administrative oversight of the Army's Astronaut Detachment; he guides the Army Space Professional Development program. "Vermont has a rich history of patriots and public servants advancing our interests as a nation," Farnsworth said during the ceremony. "The communities and people of Waltham, Vergennes, Ferrisburgh and Addison provided a great start. Growing up in the foothills of the Green Mountains along Lake Champlain where our nation was founded inspired my imagination and invoked my passion to explore the world and make a positive difference." Lt. Gen. David L. Mann conducted the ceremony which took place in the Hall of Heroes, a hallowed space located deep inside the Pentagon building. The room is dedicated to the more than 3,460 recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the nation. "Gaby is originally from Munich, Germany, and married Jeff in Vergennes during the 'snowstorm of the century' March 13, 1993," according to Andreae. "Allen and Carol still reside at Jeff's boyhood home in Waltham just outside Vergennes. His brother, Paul, and sister-in-law, Jodi, live with their two children in East Middlebury." Andreae noted that Gen. Farnsworth works alongside Gen. Mann at the USASMDC/ARSTRAT Operational Command Post, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. "The Army is a major user and provider of space capabilities, so Jeff's job is very important to the Department of Defense, the United States and our international partners and allies," Gen. Mann said at the ceremony last week. USASMDC/ARSTRAT conducts satellite communications planning and support, radar operations to identify spacecraft and space objects. It also provides Friendly Force Tracking services for the U.S. Defense Department, U.S. government agencies and allies. "I owe my success to the great soldiers and civilians that I have had the honor to team with over the last 28 years," Farnsworth said. "Without their professionalism, perseverance and achievement I would not have this great honor. I will now seek to serve our Soldiers and Civilians around the world to better our position as an Army and nation from this position of greater influence that I am both humbled and honored to hold." Farnsworth impressive academic background prepared him well for his new task as a one-star general. He holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Norwich University and a master's degree in strategic studies from the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.

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Farnsworth becomes nation's newest one-star general

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