Brigadier General Andrew Kiser Takes Command of Fort Irwin National Training Center

FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Brig. Gen. Andrew J. Kiser took command of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin on August 25, 2026, succeeding Brig. Gen. Brandon C. Anderson in a ceremony at the Sandy Basin Community Center.

Who oversaw the transfer?

The Army’s official change-of-command report identifies Maj. Gen. Karen S. Monday-Gresham, deputy commanding general of Combined Arms Command, as the presiding officer. Anderson had led the training center for approximately two years. The Army release says the outgoing commander received recognition for his service.

Kiser’s background

Kiser is from Warren, Pennsylvania, and previously served as deputy commander for operations and support in the 82nd Airborne Division. The Army states that he has about 60 months of operational deployments, including experience in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, as well as leadership assignments with armored and airborne formations.

What does the National Training Center do?

Fort Irwin’s National Training Center provides large-scale field exercises for Army units to train in demanding conditions before deployment. Its desert training area covers more than 1,000 square miles, allowing opposing-force scenarios, maneuver, logistics and combined-arms exercises.

Why the change matters locally

The commander is an important leader for military training and the installation’s wider community, including soldiers, families and civilian employees. A change of command does not by itself establish new public access rules, a reduction in employment or an announced change to civilian road operations.

What is known as of November

The confirmed transfer occurred in August. Official Army reporting from late October identifies Kiser as National Training Center commander during a congressional staff visit. This is a background profile and continuity-of-leadership report, not news of a second command change.

Sources: U.S. Army, August 25, 2026 change-of-command report; October 30 leadership update.

YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER NEEDS YOU

Help this community newspaper grow

Your support helps build coverage for the people and places this local newspaper serves.

Donate once by card ↗

Help Fort Irwin News — San Bernardino County | California58 grow Help strengthen reporting on Fort Irwin News — San Bernardino County | California58: community voices, important decisions and local life.

Support Fort Irwin News — San Bernardino County | California58

Choose how to support Fort Irwin News — San Bernardino County | California58:

Credit / Debit Card via Stripe

Choose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.

Continue with PayPal Continue with Zelle

Zelle payments go to Vitaly Ataev Troshin. Please verify the recipient in your bank before sending. Availability depends on your bank.

Optional reader support. When possible, add “Fort Irwin News — San Bernardino County | California58” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.

Optional support through the publisher. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible and never buy editorial influence.

Fort Irwin News — San Bernardino County | California58 — Your Community Newspaper

Have a correction, news tip, local announcement, or story to submit? Contact our editorial team. All submissions are reviewed before publication.

Contact the Fort Irwin News — San Bernardino County | California58 newsroom →