- Military, civilian and education leaders commemorate opening of the Army Reserve Center at Utah's Camp Williams.
- The new facility is a central element of relocating Army Reserve elements from historic Fort Douglas to Camp Williams.
- The Fort Douglas property now becomes part of the University of Utah.
After memorializing the legacy of the U.S. Army’s 96th Infantry Division — a military formation that enjoys proud Utah connections — the 96th’s former commander, Maj. Gen. Peter Cooke, paused a moment, then shouted:
“Deadeyes!”
Several in Saturday’s audience answered promptly with equal vigor: “Hooah!”
Such enthusiasm was both a salute to Utah’s rich Army past — and its confident future.
Soldiers, veterans, educators and policy makers gathered Saturday for the ceremonial opening of the Camp Williams Army Reserve Center (ARC).
The dedication of the massive 227,000-square foot facility located at Bluffdale’s Camp Williams also celebrated a historic relocation of Army Reserve military units and personnel from the final 50 acres of active military land at Fort Douglas adjacent to University of Utah’s Salt Lake City campus.
In 2024, the University of Utah and the U.S. Army Reserve announced what would be a historic land transfer and relocation agreement. Using $127 million appropriated by the Utah Legislature, the university built the state-of-the-art ARC at Camp Williams.
In exchange for funding and constructing the ARC, the University of Utah became the owner of the Fort Douglas property. The land will be used for future campus development, although the Army Reserve will continue to operate the Fort Douglas museum while the federal government will manage the fort’s military cemetery.
The agreement between the Army Reserve, the state of Utah and the University of Utah has been called “unprecedented.”
“This collaborative effort is one of the most significant modernization efforts in our region’s military history,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, in a news release. “This move to a high-tech new facility will strengthen soldier readiness, expand training capability, and enhance long-term support for operational missions across the western United States.
“And it will continue a strategic partnership between federal, state, tribal, and academic institutions committed to supporting America’s soldiers.”
The new ARC functions as a readiness complex — housing administrative facilities, sprawling storage areas, a modern maintenance shop and state-of-the-art classrooms. The Camp Williams facility also offers improved access for reservists, while enhancing “operational synergy” with the Utah Army National Guard.
The Army Reserve’s ‘Crown Jewel’
During Saturday’s ARC ribbon cutting ceremony, University of Utah President Taylor Randall said the state’s flagship university remains committed to honoring the legacy of cooperation and leadership between the school and the Army.
“We want to preserve the heritage of those buildings that you see at Fort Douglas — and we hope that you will see leaders coming out of the university that appreciate the sacrifice and service that you’ve all made,” said Randall.
The future, he added, is not built by “waiting around.”
“It’s built by individuals that see a bright future and then actually go clutch it and move it forward.
Stephen “Sully” Sullivan, the Assistant Chief of the Army Reserve, noted Saturday that the collaboration the military enjoys with the University of Utah and state policy makers helped make the ARC a reality.
“The state of Utah’s historic commitment to appropriate resources to acquire the land and fund the construction of this facility was really the tipping point,” he said, dubbing the new facility “the Army Reserve’s crown jewel.”
In just two years, added Sullivan, military and civilian partnerships “have turned a hillside at Camp Williams into a world-class training and maintenance facility that will be key to building Army Reserve readiness necessary to support the total Army and the Joint Force when they call for our soldiers to mobilize and deploy, either here at home or abroad.”
Sullivan also paid tribute to the storied 96th Infantry Division, which was headquartered in Utah for many years.
“I’m thrilled we’re going to dedicate this building to the distinguished legacy of the Deadeyes…who have served and fought bravely from World War II, Bosnia, and throughout the Global War on Terror — including the awarding of five Medals of Honor, 12 Distinguished Service Crosses, and 232 Silver Stars.”
The ARC: Symbolizing the power of cooperation
Utah’s Army National Guard Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Michael Kjar, called it an honor to have his soldiers connected with the ARC.
“As you see in the news, we have a lot of trials ahead of us,” said Kjar. “Every commanding general, every leader and every enlisted soldier feels the weight of what lies ahead in the unknown.”
The newly dedicated ARC, he added, will help Utah-based soldiers develop the capabilities required to defend their nation’s freedoms.
Army Lt. Gen. Robert Harter — Chief of the Army Reserve and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Reserve Command — spoke Saturday of the essential military role the Army Reserve plays in protecting the country.
Sadly, six “American heroes” — all Reservists — were killed by an Iranian drone last March while serving in Kuwait, he noted.
High levels of support are essential for Reservists and Guard members in uniform, said Harter. “That’s why having an awesome facility like this — in an area where we can train, get out, fire our weapons, drive our trucks, prepare to defend ourselves against (drones) and employ counter-drones — is so important to us.”
Maj. Gen. Kevin Meisler, Commanding General of the 88th Readiness Division, spoke of Utah’s commitment to the Army Reserve.
“The soldiers and civilians in our workforce live in your communities, attend your schools and play in your sports leagues,” he said. “They are your friends, family, and neighbors.”
The newly dedicated ARC, Meisler added, is a symbol of cooperation’s power. “It is a reminder that when we invest in our people; when we build strong partnerships; and when we honor both heritage and innovation, we create something that will serve generations of soldiers.”
Honoring the ‘Deadeyes’
The former commander general of what was the 96th Infantry Division — aka “Deadeyes” — Maj. Gen. Peter Cooke said Saturday’s ARC dedication bearing the 96th’s name honors “a remarkable military unit” and generations of Americans “whose courage, sacrifice and service has strengthened our nation.”
For more than a century, the soldiers of the 96th embodied honor, bravery and commitment.
The division, Cooke explained, earned the name “Deadeyes” while fighting in the Pacific during World War II. “Their marksmanship, their discipline and their unwavering resolve helped bring the war to its conclusion. For their extraordinary heroism, the division received the Presidential Unit Citation.”
Commemorating the 96th Infantry Division’s decades at Fort Douglas goes beyond simply honoring a place, added Cooke.
“We honor generations of soldiers that passed through its gates — their service, their sacrifice, their example,” he said. “They built a legacy of readiness, resilience, and quiet professionalism that continues to shape the United States Army Reserve today.
“And now the legacy has a new home.”
