New Fort Drum commander takes charge as post emphasizes North Country ties
Brig. Gen. Joseph Ewers assumed command of Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division on Oct. 8 and is expected to continue strengthening the installation’s relationship with surrounding communities.
By Nolan Briggs, ClickNNY Fort Drum Desk
Brig. Gen. Joseph Ewers assumed command of Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division during an Oct. 8 ceremony on Sexton Field, succeeding Maj. Gen. Scott Naumann. Lt. Gen. Gregory Anderson, commander of XVIII Airborne Corps, presided over the change of command.
Ewers is serving his first assignment at Fort Drum after previously working as G-3 for U.S. Army Europe and Africa, Fort Drum said. Unlike many previous division commanders, he had not served at the post before taking command.
The relationship between Fort Drum and surrounding communities is central to the installation’s operations. Fort Drum does not have a school or an inpatient hospital on post, so military families rely on services provided by North Country communities, including local school districts and hospitals.
Watertown City School District Superintendent Larry Schmiegel said district leaders attend monthly meetings with Fort Drum. Federal Impact Aid to local school districts serving Fort Drum families totaled $32,432,336 in fiscal year 2025, a 17% decrease from the previous fiscal year.
Fort Drum’s fiscal year 2025 Economic Impact Statement lists a direct economic impact of $2,204,079,754.47, an increase of about 14% from the prior year. The post is described as New York’s largest single-site employer.
The installation and surrounding communities also have worked together on local programs, including Riverfest in Alexandria Bay, Mountainfest on Division Hill and a free Alpine Express shuttle operated with Lewis County Transit.
The Army’s economic impact figures show why the relationship matters across Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties and the wider North Country. Military families use area schools, hospitals and other services, while Fort Drum activity affects the region’s economy.
Ewers has said he intends to maintain the relationship between Fort Drum and the North Country and look for ways to expand it. Updates about Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division are available through Fort Drum’s official website and the Army’s announcement of the new commanding general.
Reported by ClickNNY and reviewed by an editor before publication.
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