2026 Armed Forces Celebration Luncheon
In celebration of the role Redstone Arsenal plays in the defense of our nation and the economic impact it has on our region, the Chamber hosts a series of Armed Forces Celebration events in June. The Armed Forces Celebration Luncheon is the Chamber's signature event of the week-long celebration.
Redstone is the home of the Army Materiel Command and a dozen other Army Commands and Offices, including the US Space Command, the Missile Defense Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency. Over 46,000 people work on Redstone and more than $50 billion in federal budgets are managed on the base. Redstone Arsenal and the combined federal sector account for over half of the local economy.
We look forward to the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration. Please join us for a very special celebration of Redstone Arsenal and its leadership.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
LTG Gavin A. Lawrence
Deputy Commanding General
Redstone Arsenal Senior Commander
Lieutenant General Gavin A. Lawrence assumed duties as the Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Command and Senior Commander of Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, on 20 November 2025. In his role, he is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Army’s logistics enterprise.
Upon his graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1995, Lawrence was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps.
Lieutenant General Lawrence has held several key staff and joint assignments to include Supply and Services Officer, Combined Joint Task Force-82 (Afghanistan); Support Operations Officer, 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon,
Washington D.C.; Director of Readiness, Strategy and Operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon, Washington D.C.; Deputy Chief of Staff, Director of Logistics, U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg; and Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, U.S. Army Materiel Command.
Lieutenant General Lawrence’s command assignments include the Headquarters and Distribution Company for 225th Forward Support Battalion, Division Support Command, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; 801st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; 25th Sustainment Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks; Commander, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Commanding General, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
His combat and operational service include one deployment to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and three deployments to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2 OLC), Bronze Star Medal (3 OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), and Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 OLC). He has earned the Air Assault Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge and Parachute Rigger Badge.
His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science in International Relations from USMA, a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from U.S. Naval War College and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from U.S. Army War College where he successfully completed the Advanced Strategic Arts Program. He completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Program and University of North Carolina’s Institute for Defense and Business LOGTECH Executive Program. Lieutenant General Lawrence is also a graduate of the Combined/Joint Force Land Component Commander Course and Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course.
Event Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Date and Time
Tuesday Jun 9, 2026
12:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
Location
VBC Saturn Ballroom
See on Google Maps
Fees/Admission
Available Sponsorships
(all include one table of 8 at the event*)
Gold: $3,750
Silver: $3,000
Bronze: $2,000
* For detailed benefits, contact Diana Baccus: dbaccus@hsvchamber.org
Online registration
Individual (member): $62
Individual (non-member): $100
Reserved Table (seats 8): $775
No refunds will be processed after June 1, 2026. Refunds to credit cards will be charged a 6% processing fee.
Contact Information
Diana Baccus
256-535-2009
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