Hawthorne Army Depot welcomes new commander

HAWTHORNE, Nevada — For seven years, the Hawthorne Army Depot operated with a commander’s representative overseeing staff supervision and mission execution. Now the installation welcomes a commander, Lt. Col. Rylie Delong.

“I’m excited. Being a depot commander is kind of a dream for logisticians,” said Delong, who assumed command on Aug. 6. “It’s outside of my wheelhouse, and the expertise that I am going to learn from the professionals there is something I will be able to take with me. I’m ready to listen, learn, and lead alongside the team.

“There’s a lot of pride in this mission, and I want to honor that by showing up every day with curiosity, and a commitment to the mission,” she added.

Before arriving at HWAD, Delong served as an executive officer for the Lead Materiel Integrator Directorate, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island, Illinois. Delong’s 18th anniversary as a Soldier was in June, and she’s taken knowledge away from each duty station.

“Every assignment has taught me something different,” Delong said. “Whether I was leading, learning, or simply showing up for my team, each role shaped me into the Soldier I am today. I’m always sad to leave the team I’m with, but I’ve found that every new team welcomes me in and somehow ends up being even better than the last.”

Delong earned a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, and she was commissioned into the Ordnance Corps from Wyoming's Cowboy Battalion in 2008. Delong also holds a Master of Arts in reverse logistics from American Military University and a Master of Military Art and Science in operational studies from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Courtney Isom, who has served as HWAD’s commander’s representative since February 2025, will continue as the deputy to the commander.

“I am excited for Lt. Col. DeLong to take the helm here at Hawthorne Army Depot. After seven years without a lieutenant colonel in the commander’s seat, it is truly outstanding to welcome a military presence back to this installation,” said Isom, who has been a member of HWAD’s workforce since June 2015. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the commander's representative for the past 18 months. I look forward to working closely with Lt. Col. DeLong as she assumes command, and to passing forward all that I have learned during my time in this role.

“I am confident that together we will accomplish great things during her tenure and continue strengthening the vital mission of the Hawthorne Army Depot," Isom added.

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