FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (July 24, 2014) -- The 902nd Military Intelligence Group welcomed Col. John J. Bonin, its new commander, in a change of command ceremony Friday at McGlachlin Parade Field.
"To all the Soldiers, civilians and families of the 902nd stationed around the world, my family and I are honored to be handed the responsibility of commanding this great organization," Bonin said in his brief remarks.
Bonin assumed command of the counterintelligence unit from Col. Yvette C. Hopkins, who served for two years.
Hopkins will serve as the intelligence officer for Special Operations Command Africa.
"John brings a great reputation [and] tremendous operational experience into this command," said Maj. Gen. George J. Franz III, commanding general of U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command at Fort Belvoir, Va. "John, you're ready."
During the ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Mathis, who served with Hopkins and is retiring after 30 years of service, relinquished responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Gordon S. Walker.
The 902nd MI conducts counterintelligence activities to protect the U.S. Army, selected Department of Defense forces and agencies, and classified information and technologies by detecting, identifying, neutralizing and exploiting foreign intelligence services and transnational terrorist threats.
Bonin, a native of Burrillville, R.I., is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he earned a degree in political science. After graduation, he was branch-detailed Air Defense Artillery and transitioned to the Military Intelligence Corps in March 1997.
In 2002, Bonin attended the National Systems Development Program at Fort Meade. After completing the one-year program, he was assigned as a collection manager with the National Security Agency and deployed to Iraq as the team leader for an intelligence support team in May 2004.
A year later, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., for a second time as the brigade intelligence officer for the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He deployed to New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina relief operations, and to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006 to 2007.
In 2010, Bonin assumed command of the 344th MI Battalion at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, where he was responsible for training Army Signals Intelligence and firefighter Soldiers.
Most recently, Bonin was the director of plans and deputy chief of staff for intelligence for the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan.
During the event, Franz praised Hopkins for her "great energy, mission focus and truly innovative spirit."
The commanding general wished her well in her new assignment.
"Yvette, you are truly prepared for this critical mission," Franz said. "And I know you will shape the future of operational and tactical intelligence for years to come."
In her remarks, Hopkins praised the 902nd MI and welcomed Bonin.
"John, I leave you the Army's -- no the DoD's -- finest counterintelligence organization," Hopkins said. "I leave you a group of resilient professionals, who not only have each other's back, but they will have your and Command Sergeant Major [Gordon] Walker's back.
"They will follow your vision and leadership, and deliver results in a way that you could not have possibly imagined."
In his remarks, Bonin mentioned the betrayal of Benedict Arnold against the fledging nation during the Revolutionary War.
"Today, we face an even more complex array of threats from nation states, non-state actors and insider threats," Bonin said. "I am humbled to be a small part of our Army's effort to protect the nation and our Soldiers."
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