The 1st Engineer Brigade is under the leadership of a new senior noncommissioned officer.
Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Houston passed the senior enlisted responsibilities to Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Johnson during a change-of-responsibility ceremony Nov. 21, in the Engineer Regimental Room at the John B. Mahaffey Museum Complex.
Houston is leaving to become the command sergeant major of the 2nd Engineer Brigade (Amphibious), Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
Col. Daniel Larson, 1st Engineer Brigade commander, spoke after the change of responsibility. He said a command sergeant major's impact is immeasurable.
"It has been my great honor and privilege to have Command Sgt. Maj. Houston as my battle buddy. I lack the words to tell you what he has meant to this brigade -- and to me personally," Larson said.
Houston thanked Larson during his time at the podium.
"You have helped me make the transition to being a command sergeant major," Houston said.
He said he was proud to have served on the 1st Engineer Brigade team with the other Soldiers, cadre and civilians, and he was going to miss working on post.
"I hope you all understand the world-wide impact that you truly have," Houston said. "Fort Leonard Wood is a great place to live and work."
During his speech, Larson said his brigade was lucky that the Army replaced quality with quality.
"Command Sgt. Maj. Johnson is also an exceptional pick to be the brigade command sergeant major," Larson said. "He has the experienced judgment, discernment, professional and great attitude that will allow and enable this brigade to excel."
Johnson is coming from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., where he served as the installation command sergeant major.
"I pledge my complete dedication to our mission and our Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors," Johnson said. "I will continue the tradition of excellence in this organization."
He thanked the leaders who taught him throughout his career and vowed to pass on their tradition of mentorship and leader development.
"The NCO creed says that all Soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership -- I will provide that leadership. The future of regiment and our Army depends upon it," Johnson said.
He entered the Army in November 1986 from Terre Haute, Ind., and completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Leonard Wood.
Johnson has served as a team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant, drill sergeant, Equal Opportunity advisor, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of Directorate of Public Works, first sergeant and command sergeant major.
His deployments and overseas tours include, Soto-Cano Airbase, Honduras, Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom; and Grafenwoehr, Germany just to name a few.
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