3rd brigade welcomes new commander

By Sgt. Brandon BanzhafJuly 3, 2014

3rd Brigade welcomes new commander
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. David Lesperance (left), outgoing commander, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division; Maj. Gen. Michael Bills, commander, 1st Cav. Div.; and Col. Matthew Van Wagenen, incoming commander for the brigade, participate in the change of command... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
3rd Brigade welcomes new commander
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Michael Bills (right), reviewing officer and commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, passes the 3rd Brigade Combat Team's colors to Col. Matthew Van Wagenen (left), charging him with command of the brigade, during a change of command ceremon... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
3rd Brigade welcomes new commander
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment lead horses to the reviewing party during a change of command ceremony June 26 on Cooper Field at Fort Hood, Texas. The reviewing party rides horseback around the formation to inspect th... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas - In traditional Cavalry style, service members, Family, friends and loved ones welcomed a new commander and said farewell to a long-serving Cavalry officer during a brigade change of command June 26.

Col. Matthew Van Wagenen assumed command of the "Greywolf" brigade from Col. David Lesperance, who served as commander from July 2012 to June 2014.

Wagenen recently served in Operation Enduring Freedom as the combined and joint operations officer for the International Security Assistance Force' Regional Command --

East from April 2012 to April 2014.

The new commander highlighted the importance of the Soldiers standing in formation and serving in the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

"These are the men and women who make sacrifices everyday and stand guard for our nation," Van Wagenen said. "Our mission is to fight and win our nation's wars, and to take care of our Families. The Greywolf team was ready to do this mission yesterday, is ready today and will be ready tomorrow."

After reviewing the Soldiers in the brigade formation from their horseback mounts, Lesperance and Van Wagenen discussed the accomplishments of Greywolf service members and their potential to accomplish a variety of missions.

"I am proud of this formation standing on the field today," said outgoing commander Lesperance. "Over the past two years we have relearned how to execute combined arms maneuver at the brigade, battalion, company and platoon level, and continue the Army's effort in developing leaders that are proficient in core war-fighting competencies."

During the ceremony, Lesperance passed the brigade's colors to Maj.. Gen. Michael Bills, commander, 1st Cavalry Division, symbolically relinquishing command of the brigade.

Bills then passed the colors to Van Wagenen, charging him with the responsibility of command and with maintaining and preparing the unit for a variety of missions.

The new commander praised his predecessor.

"I want to recognize Dave and Kelly Lesperance," Van Wagenen said. "Steffi and I want to thank you for the gracious and deliberate transition into the Greywolf family. You and the brigade have made us feel welcome as newcomers to Fort Hood and the 1st Team, and we greatly appreciate it."

Wagenen is a graduate the Marquette University Reserve Officer Training Corps program in Milwaukee and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Armor branch.

Lesperance moves on to be the III Corps Chief of Staff.