Photo By Brittany Trumbull | Mr. Robert Doerer, Fort Rucker’s deputy to the commanding general (left), and ACLC Commander Col. Timothy Harloff (right) unveil the new signage on the ACLC Headquarters on Fort Rucker Building 1116, now named Cribbins Hall. see less
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Fort Rucker Building Dedicated to Joseph P. Cribbins
FORT RUCKER, Ala.– The headquarters for the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command’s (AMCOM) Aviation Combined Logistics Command (ACLC), building 1116, was officially dedicated in honor of Joseph P. Cribbins, a legendary figure in Army aviation logistics whose career spanned more than four decades.
Cribbins began his military career in 1940 as an enlisted cavalryman and was commissioned in 1942. His service included assignments in the Southwest Pacific during World War II, where he managed intra-theater air transportation for Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters, and later in Korea and Japan.
After retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1966, Cribbins continued as a senior civil servant specializing in aviation logistics. He retired again in 1986 from the dual position of Special Assistant to the U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and the Chief of the Aviation Logistics Office.
His impact was recognized with numerous honors, including two Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Awards, the Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive presented by President Ronald Reagan, and induction into the Army Aviation Association of America Hall of Fame in 1980.
The building that now bears his name is the headquarters for the ACLC, a command with a critical and far-reaching mission. What began as a pilot program in 2002 now delivers essential materiel readiness and logistics support to five key Army installations: Fort Rucker, Fort Huachuca, Fort Benning, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, and Fort Sill.
"While this building may only be 6,800 square feet, its reach and influence is felt far beyond the boundaries of Fort Rucker," said Robert Doerer, Fort Rucker’s deputy to the commanding general.
Doerer emphasized the importance of the work done at the ACLC.
"This is about so much more than a building," he said. "The men and women who work inside these walls carry out a mission that Mr. Cribbins would be incredibly proud of."
According to Doerer, the ACLC "ensures quality aircraft maintenance for the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, providing logistics support and quality oversight across a more than 200,000-hour flying program with over 500 aircraft. They work around the clock making sure our aviation Soldiers fly safe and reliable aircraft."
Doerer, who met Cribbins earlier in his career, also shared a personal reflection.
"He was a lover of people as well as aviation," Doerer recalled. "He didn't talk about himself; he wanted to know about me."
As Doerer put it, dedicating the building to Cribbins is a fitting tribute, ensuring his name will forever be linked to the people-focused, safety-oriented mission he championed throughout his life.
