A senior Schofield Barracks commander collapsed while running early Monday morning, and was pronounced dead a short time later at Wahiawa General Hospital, the Army said.

Col. Roderick G. Demps, 45, the Military Police Brigade commander at Schofield, was performing physical training, or PT, at approximately 4:30 a.m. when he stopped to make sure everything was OK at the McComb Gate and collapsed, officials said.

Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commander of the 25th Infantry Division (Light), said the Army had "lost a member of our family."

"Our deepest condolences go out to Rod's family at the untimely passing of a really great soldier," Mixon said in a statement. "He made a valuable contribution to our country and our Army, and he has left an impact on us here, especially those members of the Military Police Brigade. He will be missed."

Demps assumed command of the brigade on May 10 after serving as chief of the operations division in the Office of the Provost Marshal General at the Pentagon.

The Melbourne, Fla., native, who entered the Army in 1982 and had previous assignments in Egypt and South Korea, built his career in the Military Police Corps.