Rock Island Arsenal-Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center artisans prepare 3000-degree molten steel for a furnace-to-ladle transfer during a demonstration of RIA-JMTC’s foundry capabilities for then-Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth during her visit to Rock Island Arsenal June 6, 2022. RIA-JMTC operates the premier foundry of the U.S. Army. (Hayley Smith/U.S. Army)
(Tribune News Service) — Standing in front of a row of flats under a bright blue sky, Col. Eloy Martinez accepted his new role as the 53rd commander of the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center on the Rock Island Arsenal, Ill.
A Texas native, Martinez enlisted in 1992 before working his way up the ranks. Martinez said the move to Rock Island was a long time coming, but one he was looking forward to for some time.
During his three decade career in the Army, he said, he’s had experience in aviation, transportation, special operations and strategic logistics. All of those tasks have strengthened his commitment to the war fighter, he said, and continuing to do so at the JMTC aligns with the mission he’s already embarked on.
Martinez replaces Col. David G. Guida, a Minnesota native who took command of the JMTC in June 2023.
Leaving the Arsenal is bittersweet, Guida said.
“When I took command, I walked into a facility with a very strong foundation filled with dedicated and skilled professionals, but many of you shared with me the potential to do more, to be more and to deliver greater value to our war fighters,” he told the crowd gathered outside the factory Tuesday morning.
Guida said that’s exactly what JMTC staff were able to accomplish during his two year tenure: increasing output and growing both production volume and revenue generation.
“And it’s not a temporary surge,” he said. “This is a clear trend of positive momentum.”
In the last month, he said, staff filled more than 300 million new orders and generated nearly $400 million in revenue.
In welcoming his successor, Guida spoke directly to Martinez, saying he was stepping into a command forged through hard work and dedication from the people around him.
“I have no doubt that you’re the right choice to lead the JMTC to even greater heights. You’ll find this team is dedicated, resilient and ready to tackle any challenges,” Guida said. “The workforce is the foundation of our success, and I have full confidence in their ability to continue to excel under your command.”
Martinez said he was excited to take on the challenge, especially after previous visits to the Arsenal where he learned his new team took on more than 300 projects and earned the ASI 100 certification — a quality management system standard for the aerospace industry, marking the factory’s ongoing modernization and its expansion into new, high-tech markets.
“These accomplishments are just testament to your commitment to excellence. This versatility is what makes the JMTC uniquely equipped to meet the evolving needs of America’s Armed Forces,” he said. “We will build on the incredible foundation which you’ve created and together we will streamline the processes and embrace advanced technologies to strengthen the partnership across the Department of Defense and leverage our full spectrum of capabilities.”
© 2025 Quad City Times, Davenport, Iowa.
Visit www.qctimes.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
