WEST FORT HOOD – Col. (promotable) Curtis D. Potts stood in front of U.S. Army Operational Test Command Headquarters Friday morning wearing, of course, his Army combat uniform.

He handed the command over to a man wearing a uniform not often seen leading an Army formation – a crisp business suit.

James Amato, Fort Hood's only Senior Executive Service member, was chosen to replace Potts and will serve as executive director of the command.

The title of Senior Executive Service is the equivalent of a general officer.  The command's headquarters, the U.S Army Test and Evaluation Command, has appointed members of the service to lead commands only two times.  James B. Johnson was selected as director of the U.S. Army Developmental Test Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., on July 15.

Before taking command in June 2007, Potts served as the 4th Infantry Division's chief of staff from June 2004 to January 2007.

The U.S. Army Operational Test Command is an extraordinary unit, Potts said.  It is filled by soldiers, civilians and contractors, all patriots with a "common thread that binds them as a team" and has a common goal:  to provide soldiers with operationally tested and combat-ready equipment.

Unlike many units at Fort Hood, soldiers and civilian employees serve together.

"Over the last 18 months I have learned that you don't have to wear a uniform to be a true patriot," Potts said.  "(The command) is not just a unit doing its mission, but rather a family that prides itself on taking care of business and taking care of each other."

Maj. Gen. Roger A. Nadeau credited Potts and the Fort Hood-based command for doing more to help transform his unit, the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, than any other.  Nadeau said when he needed an opinion, he'd call Potts because he had faith and confidence he'd hear what he needed, not what he wanted.

Potts thanked U.S. Operational Test Command for "taking in this energetic warrior and teaching me that it is possible to make a difference while stopping to smell the flowers along the way."

Potts and his wife, Susie, have two children, Jessica and Courtney.

Before coming to Central Texas, Amato served as the director of the Integrated Logistics Support Evaluation Directorate of the U.S. Army Evaluation Center, U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command.  He was promoted to the Senior Executive Service on Sept. 14 after 21 years as a civilian in Army operations research analysis, test and evaluation.

Amato said he was excited to be part of the test team at Fort Hood and outlined three priorities he set for the command.  He wants to continue to build on the "relevance and readiness," grow the "quality workforce that is the heart and soul" and embrace and harness change and new ideas.

Amato is the right person at the right place at the right time, Nadeau said.