New leadership takes helm at JFHQ-NCR/MDW

By Julia LeDoux, Pentagram Staff WriterJuly 2, 2013

JFHQ-NCR change of command
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (From the left) Outgoing Commander of Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command Gen.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
JFHQ-NCR change of command
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Commander Col. James C. Markert (center) escorts incoming Commander of Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan (left) ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
JFHQ-NCR change of command
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Incoming Commander of Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan (center) receives a flag from Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Com... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
JFHQ-NCR change of command
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Incoming Commander of Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan speaks during a change of command ceremony in Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hallsh"ôs Conmy Hall June... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
JFHQ-NCR change of command
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) take part in a pass in review during a change of command ceremony for incoming Commander of Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington Maj. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON (June 25, 2013) -- Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and the Military District of Washington has a new leader.

Maj. Gen. (P) Michael S. Linnington relinquished command to Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan during a traditional change of command ceremony June 24 at Conmy Hall at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

Prior to the change of command ceremony, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. John F. Campbell presented Linnington and his wife, Brenda, with awards in honor of their service to the command at the Town Hall building. Linnington received the Distinguished Service Medal and Brenda Linnington was honored for her support of JFHQ-NCR, its service members and civilian employees.

"It's a very humble day for me frankly," Linnington said.

Before presenting the awards, Campbell asked those gathered in the Town Hall building, including members of Linnington's family, friends and colleagues, what the first word that comes to mind is when they think about Linnington.

Words like "supporter," "passionate," "gracious," "genuine," "mentor," "tireless," "real," "competitive," and "loyal," were common responses.

"That really talks about what Mike and the unit has done as a team," said Campbell, who noted that as JFHQ-NCR and MDW commander, Linnington was responsible for seven installations, oversaw the 57th presidential inaugural, and met with numerous heads of state, among other duties.

"He is always personally involved, he is an inspiring leader," Campbell said of Linnington. "Bottom line at the end of these two years, Mike has done [an] incredible [job]."

Following the awards ceremony, attendees walked across the street to Conmy Hall for the change of command. Campbell and Gen. Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., commander U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, served as hosts for the event.

Col. James C. Markert, commander of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) served as commander of troops. Participating units included "Pershing's Own," The United States Army Band and The Old Guard.

Buchanan received his commission in 1982 after graduating from the University of Arizona with a bachelor of science in wildlife ecology. He also holds a master of arts in leadership development from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

He most recently served as the deputy commanding general, I Corps, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Buchanan's earlier duty assignments include command and staff positions within the 82nd Airborne Division, 25th Infantry Division, and 101st Airborne Division. He also served as a company and battalion tactical officer at the United States Military Academy.

From 1995 to 1997 Buchanan served as the director for operations of Joint Task Force Full Accounting. He then returned to the 101st Airborne Division, where he served as the battalion commander of the 3-187th Infantry from 1999 to 2001.

Buchanan was assigned to the U.S. Army Infantry School as the director of combat developments from 2003-2004, but served most of that year deployed to Iraq as the director of operations, Coalition Military Assistance Training Team.

From 2004 to 2006, Buchanan commanded the 2nd Brigade, 75th Division (TSB) and deployed for a second time to Iraq, where he served as an advisor to the Iraqi Special Police Commando Division. Upon his return to the United States, he served as the director of operations for U.S. Army North, the Fifth Army, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, until November, 2007.

From 2007 until 2009, Buchanan was the deputy commanding general for the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y., which included a deployment to Iraq as the Multi-National Division-South. Following an assignment as the G-3/5/7 for the United States Army Reserve Command, Buchanan returned to Iraq as the director of strategic effects with U.S. Forces Iraq. He served in that position from July 2010 to December 2011.

Buchanan said he was humbled and honored to be named the JFHQ-NCR and MDW commander and looked forward to his new role.

Related Links:

JFHQ-NCR

MDW