Photo By Staff Sgt. Karen Sampson | Maj. Gen. Windsor S. Buzza, incoming commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve “Blood...... read more read more
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – U.S. Army Reserve “Blood and Fire” Soldiers assigned to the 63rd Readiness Division held a change of command ceremony, Sept. 27, 2025, on Moffet Field. The ceremony was hosted by U.S. Army Reserve Command Commanding General Lt. Gen. Robert E. Harter, who led Soldiers, community members, families, and distinguished guests in honoring Maj. Gen. Tracy L. Smith, as she bid farewell to her role as the 63rd RD commander and welcomed Maj. Gen. Windsor S. Buzza as he assumes his readiness division role.
“Shane, congratulations on taking command,” said Harter. “Crush it, and I know you will.”
Buzza brings a wealth of experience from his tenure as the former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
“Shane joins us from his role as the chief of staff for Forces Command, the largest command in our army, with almost 750,000 soldiers,” Harter said.
“Now, Shane, this is awesome,” Harter laughed. Harter joked that Buzza will now have to live with all the FORSCOM policies and rules that he helped publish.
Smith’s time with the 63rd RD, though memorable, marks the end of her service in the Army.
“The Army was never really in my plan,” said Smith as she smiled softly.
“I joined a basic training course in physical education for college PE credit, sponsored by the ROTC program,” Smith reminisced. “That's how it started, but I stayed for the team.”
“After 37 years, I can say the Army, the Army mission is the body of work, but the service, soldiers, leaders, and civilians I stood beside and for whom I served are its soul,” Smith said.
“I am honored to have served the mighty 63rd Blood and Fire Division,” she said.
Smith’s career path influenced health programs, Army hospitals, and Army deployment medical readiness. Additionally, during her career, she served as the Deputy Surgeon General for Readiness, Mobilization, and Reserve Affairs in the Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Army, where she was appointed to two special task forces. She first served as the Chief of Staff for the Air Defense Artillery Health of the Force Assessment, followed by Chief of Staff to the Army Support Team of the Naming Commission. Her previous assignments include Commanding General, 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support), Fort Shafter, HI; Deputy Commanding General for Support, 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support), Salt Lake City, UT; Chief of Staff, Army Reserve Medical Command (AR-MEDCOM), Pinellas Park, FL; and Commanding General of the 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support). Her dedication, leadership, and varied contributions to the 63rd RD have made a historical impact as the first two-star female commanding general of the 63rd RD since its lineage activation in 1943 as the 63rd Infantry Division.
“Shane, the 63rd is extremely fortunate to have you,” Smith said.
Buzza kept his remarks brief but sincere.
“I'd like to start by saying thank you, Lieutenant General Harter, for presiding over today's ceremony and for the trust and confidence placed in me to assume this command.”
| Date Taken: | 09.27.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2025 15:59 |
| Story ID: | 549476 |
| Location: | MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 144 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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