The last of nine Army installations was renamed Oct. 27 when Fort Gordon became Fort Eisenhower in honor of former President Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower.

The decision to rename the installation near Augusta, Georgia, upholds the values the Army holds dear, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said during the renaming ceremony. “The Army is a values-based institution,” Wormuth said. “Today, we choose to honor a man, a general, a president who upheld the values we want our force to embody—values like loyalty, integrity and selfless service.”

Before becoming the 34th president of the United States, Eisenhower was a five-star general who commanded Allied forces in Europe during World War II. After the war, he served as Army chief of staff. He was elected president in 1952. Eisenhower enjoyed relaxing in the Augusta area, a connection that prompted local residents to suggest his name during the renaming process for the installation. 

The redesignation aligns with the recommendations of an eight-member commission tasked by Congress to remove Confederate names, symbols, displays and monuments from DoD assets.

The renaming represents more than a name change, Wormuth said during the ceremony, which was attended by Eisenhower’s granddaughters, Susan and Mary Jean. “Today, I asked all of you to find meaning not only in who we are commemorating, but what this ceremony represents,” Wormuth said. “It’s the culmination of a base renaming process that began in 2020. Change is often necessary but not often easy. So, I want to thank each and every person who helped with this redesignation for supporting such an important step forward.” 

In the past year, eight other Army posts received new names. Three are in Virginia—Fort Barfoot, formerly Fort Pickett; Fort Gregg-Adams, which was Fort Lee; and Fort Walker, formerly Fort A.P. Hill. The others are Fort Novosel, formerly Fort Rucker, in Alabama; Fort Cavazos, formerly Fort Hood, in Texas; Fort Moore, formerly Fort Benning, in Georgia; Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg, in North Carolina; and Fort Johnson, formerly Fort Polk, in Louisiana

The Army is entering “a period of immense change,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Stanton, commanding general of the Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Eisenhower.

“Sixty-two years ago, on a cold January day, President Eisenhower stood on this parade field with a large hometown Augustine crowd in attendance to hold the most meaningful formation of his service. It was his last before retiring,” Stanton said. “We are on the same field where it thrills our hearts to commemorate [his] legacy.” 

Stanton said he’s proud of the installation’s new name. “Fort Eisenhower will forever be associated with an incredible soldier, statesman, visionary and world leader,” Stanton said. “To reuse [his] 1952 campaign slogan, it’s time for a change. And here on Fort Eisenhower, we like Ike.”