FORT DRUM, N.Y. (March 25, 2015) -- Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister took command of 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum from Maj. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend during a change of command ceremony Wednesday at Fort Drum.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, commander of XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, N.C., presided over the ceremony.
Bannister most recently served as the director of strategy, plans and policy in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Pentagon. Like Townsend, he has worn the 10th Mountain Division patch before when he served as deputy commanding general for operations from 2009 to 2011, during which he served in the Regional Command-South during the division's deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan.
"The Bannisters are no strangers to the North Country," Townsend said. "They have also raised kids here, and they too, understand this unique North Country community."
He said the two are good friends, going way back to their early days in the 75th Ranger Regiment.
"The Army has selected a great leader and a great Family to lead the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum into the future," Townsend said of Bannister. "The Soldiers and Families of this division will be well-served and well-led -- of that, I am certain."
Bannister was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army in 1984 through Campbell University's Reserve Officers Training Corps. He has served in almost every leadership position both in and out of combat. After leaving the 10th Mountain Division in 2011, he served at U.S. Central Command, Tampa, Fla., as deputy director of operations. In 2013, he was promoted and served as deputy chief of staff at the International Security Assistance Force Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan.
He and his wife Tracy said they are "delighted" in coming back to the North Country and the 10th Mountain Division.
"It's a great day to have this opportunity to lead," Bannister said.
"I'm truly honored and humbled to serve as commander of Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division," he said, adding, "It's great to be back in the North Country."
Of Bannister, Anderson said the Army "chose well."
"He's an exceptional leader and a Soldier's Soldier," Anderson said. "He brings an incredible amount of experience to this division."
He thanked the Townsends for their care of the Soldiers, their Families and the community around Fort Drum.
"Although Steve's leadership has been a success … know that so much of Steve's success was through your support," he said to Melissa Townsend.
Anderson, who served as commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command in Afghanistan during much of Townsend's time as the Regional Command-East commander, said he was "magnificent in combat."
"Steve, you've been an outstanding commander," he said. "You've prepared a steely and tough formation all while taking your time to show you genuinely care for the needs of Soldiers and Families."
Townsend leaves the North Country after a successful command and his third tour at Fort Drum, starting in 1999 as commander of the "Polar Bears" of 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment; as the division's operations chief from 2003-2004; and lastly as the division commander. Each tour came with a deployment to eastern Afghanistan. During his last deployment as the Combined Joint Task Force-10 commander, the Regional Command-East mission ended as it transitioned to NATO's Resolute Support Mission.
"Our legacy started in World War II at places like Riva Ridge and Po Valley -- places where the division earned its motto: Climb to Glory," he told those in attendance. "I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have commanded this storied division."
Townsend is currently awaiting Senate confirmation to take Anderson's post as commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg.
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