White Sands Commanders

Brigadier General Harry D. Gatanas was the 22nd Commander of White Sands Missile Range. Prior to this assignment, BG Gatanas served as the Assistant Deputy for Systems Management and Horizontal Technology Integration in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research, Development and Acquisition) from 1 July 1996 to 12 April 1998. He also served as the Director for Contracting, OSARDA, from 1995 to 1996. BG Gatanas’ acquisition command assignments were as Commander, Defense Contract Management Command New York from 1992 to 1995 and Commander, Defense Contract Management Command, McDonnell Douglas, Huntington Beach, California, from 1988 to 1991.

Upon entry on active duty in 1972, BG Gatanas served in a variety of command, personnel, and administrative assignments with the 1st Armored Division, Germany; and the Army’s Military Personnel Center, Alexandria, Virginia. BG Gatanas was also assigned to the Tank Automotive Command, Warren, Michigan, as Secretary of the General Staff and Aide de Camp to the Commander. His acquisition assignments included duty as Contracting Branch Chief, Project VIABLE, U.S. Army Computer Systems Command; Acquisition Staff Officer in the Office, Chief of Staff, Army; and as Assistant Executive to the Assistant Chief of Staff for Information Management, Headquarters, Department of the Army. His most recent assignment prior to becoming the Commanding General at WSMR was as Chief of Staff, 8th PERSCOM, 8th Army, Seoul, Korea.

BG Gatanas is a native of New York City, attended Brooklyn Technical High School, and graduated from the City College of New York. He was also a graduate of Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. His extensive acquisition and military training includes the Project Management Course, Defense Systems Management College, the Logistics Executive Development Course, the Army’s Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.

BG Gatanas’ military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Legion of Merit (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), and the Army Commendation Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

BG Gatanas is married to the former Mary Ruth Lojewski of Allen Park, Michigan. Their daughter, Adrienne, is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego, and served with the United Nations in New York City. Son Andrew is a graduate of Michigan State University and is employed as an environmental engineer at USI Government Systems Group in Chantilly, Virginia.