Constable relinquishes command of 411th Engineer Brigade

By Capt. Lawrence Lee, 411th Engineer BrigadeJanuary 22, 2014

Constable relinquishes command of 411th Engineer Brigade
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Laquish Smith presents a bouquet of red roses to Mrs. Patricia Constable, wife of Col. John P. Constable, a native of Watertown, N.Y., and outgoing commander of 411th Engineer Brigade, 412th Theater Engineer Command, in a chang... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Constable relinquishes command of 411th Engineer Brigade
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Reserve Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew Krom, senior enlisted advisor for 411th Engineer Brigade, 412th Theater Engineer Command, passes the brigade colors to outgoing commander, Col. John P. Constable, for the last time in a change of command cer... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Constable relinquishes command of 411th Engineer Brigade
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Damar Lewis presents a bouquet of budding yellow roses to Mrs. Marianne Henning, wife of Col. Ralph Henning, incoming commander of 411th Engineer Brigade, 412th Theater Engineer Command, during a change of command ceremony held... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Constable relinquishes command of 411th Engineer Brigade
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers of 411th Engineer Brigade and subordinate battalions render honors to U.S. Colors in a change of command ceremony for the 'Brigade of Choice' in New Windsor, N.Y.. From Left to Right: 365th Engineer Battalion, 458th Enginee... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Constable relinquishes command of 411th Engineer Brigade
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Reserve Col. John P. Constable, outgoing commander of 411th Engineer Brigade, 412th Theater Engineer Command, passes the brigade colors to Brig. Gen. Miyako Shanely, deputy commander of 412th TEC, relinquishing command to incoming commander... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Constable relinquishes command of 411th Engineer Brigade
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Reserve Col. Ralph Henning, commander of 411th Engineer Brigade, 412th Theater Engineer Command, addresses the Soldiers and Family members of the 'Brigade of Choice' following a change of command ceremony at the 411th headquarters in New Wi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Constable relinquishes command of 411th Engineer Brigade
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Reserve Col. John P. Constable, outgoing commander of 411th Engineer Brigade, 412th Theater Engineer Command, and Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew Krom, senior enlisted advisor for the 'Brigade of Choice', affix the Meritorious Unit Commendation st... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

NEW WINDSOR, N.Y.--Col. John P. Constable of Carthage, N.Y., relinquished command of 411th Engineer Brigade, 412th Theater Engineer Command, to Col. Ralph D. Henning of Lakewood, Colo., in a change of command ceremony well attended by past and present 411th Soldiers, Family members, friends and leaders from surrounding communities.

Brig. Gen. Miyako Schanely, deputy commander of the 412th TEC in Vicksburg, Miss., officiated the transfer of leadership.

In his final remarks as commander of 'Brigade of Choice', Constable reminisced of his own experience as a young private growing up in the military, transitioning into greater authority and responsibilities throughout his career, appreciating the service and sacrifice of Soldiers and their Families, and what the Army represents and stands for in meeting the needs of the Nation.

"The Army is a business of people...America's best and brightest, and I am extremely proud to be a part of the forty-seven percent of the American population that serves in uniform."

"It's also an organization of limitless opportunities," he said, referencing Brig. Gen. Schanely as an example. "She is the first United States Army Reserve Engineer female general officer, West Point graduate."

Constable also pointed to his own "much lesser example 38 years ago, when Private First Class Constable was in Basic Training and absolutely terrified of his drill sergeant."

"So to the Soldiers in HHC, I hope there's somebody back there, a few years down the road, that you can yourself to that."

Constable is a native of Watertown, New York and currently resides in Carthage, New York. He enlisted in the United States Army on 23 December 1975 and following Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training, Private Constable served in Texas, Korea and Colorado prior to leaving active duty as a sergeant in December of 1979. Upon graduation from Cornell University in 1984, Staff Sergeant Constable received a Regular Army commission through Army ROTC.

After graduating from the Basic Course and other training at the US Army Infantry School, he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, specialty platoon leader and staff officer prior to leaving active duty. He joined the United States Army Reserve in March of 1989 and subsequently served as an Equipment Platoon Leader, Company Commander, Battalion Intelligence Officer, Battalion Operations Officer and Battalion Executive Officer with the 479th Engineer Battalion. He then served two years as a Plans Officer with the 411th Engineer Brigade before returning to the 479th Engineer Battalion as the Battalion Operations Officer. Mobilized in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March of 2003, Col. Constable assumed command of the 479th Engineer Battalion in May of 2003 and relinquished command in August 2005.

Col. Constable served as the Chief of Operations for the 411th Engineer Brigade from August of 2005 through January of 2008 to include service in Iraq. He assumed his currently duty position as Chief of Staff in January of 2008 and served as the Chief of Staff of Joint Task Force Empire in Afghanistan in 2012 through 2013.

His military education includes the Infantry Officers Basic Course, Engineer Officers Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and the Command and General Staff College. He has a BS in Business Administration from Cornell University as well as holding a Masters in Business Administration.

Col. Constable's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, eight awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, five awards of the Army Commendation Medal, four awards of the Army Achievement Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Korea Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass and "M" device. He is a holder of the bronze de Fleury Medal awarded by the Army Engineer Association on behalf of the Engineer Regiment.

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