Incoming commander for Army Space and Missile Defense Command dies

Maj. Gen. John Rossi, the incoming commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command, has died, the Army announced Monday.

Rossi, 55, died Sunday in his on-post home at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. The investigation into the cause of Rossi’s death is still underway.

“At this point we don’t have any indication of foul play,” said Chris Grey, a spokesman for Army Criminal Investigation Command.

Rossi most recently served as the commanding general of the Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Before that, he served as the director of the Army Quadrennial Defense Review Office in the Pentagon.

Rossi had just arrived at Redstone Arsenal after relinquishing command of Fort Sill in July. He and his family moved into their house on-post less than two weeks ago, said John Cummings, a spokesman for Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

On Tuesday, Rossi had been scheduled to be promoted to lieutenant general and succeed Lt. Gen. David Mann as commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command.

Mann was scheduled to retire; he will now remain in command, Cummings said.

“Our thoughts and prayers at with Maj. Gen. John Rossi’s family,” said Lt. Gen. Larry Wyche, deputy commanding general of Army Material Command and senior commander of Redstone Arsenal, in a statement. “We share their grief during this time of loss. Our priority right now is to take care of the family, ensuring they have all the resources they need during this critical time.”

Rossi grew up on Long Island, New York. He graduated from West Point in 1983 and was commissioned as an air defense artillery officer, according to a biography provided by the Army.

During his time in the Army, Rossi has served in the U.S., Korea, Germany, Southwest Asia and Iraq, commanding at every level from battery to the Fires Center of Excellence.

He is survived by his wife, Liz, and their three children and one grandchild.