FORT RUCKER, Ala. (June 4, 2015) -- The 1st Aviation Brigade welcomed its new senior NCO during a change of responsibility ceremony at Howze Field May 27.
Col. Shawn Prickett, 1st Avn. Bde. commander, presided over the ceremony as Command Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Sutterfield assumed responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick A. Blair.
The colonel expressed his gratitude for Blair's leadership, as well as his confidence in Sutterfield's appointment.
"Command Sergeant Major Mike and Kelly Sutterfield, welcome to this team and family. I know your time here will be blessed with the rewards that come with having so many Soldiers and officers to make the awesome responsibility seem like a gift," said the brigade commander. "I'm honored and humbled to have the chance to participate in this recognition of change for the unit. There are going to be times when you question why you took this job, but I know you both have the leadership skills and commitment to answer the call."
Sutterfield joined the Army in 1992 as an air traffic control specialist after attending Basic Combat Training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Rucker.
Since then, he's held multiple leadership positions, ranging from air traffic control facility chief, platoon sergeant, Division Airspace Command and Control NCO in charge, and battalion command sergeant major for 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment at Soto Cano Airbase, Honduras, and the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Sutterfield is no stranger to Fort Rucker, as he also served as the 1st Bn., 223rd Avn. Regt. command sergeant major.
"I am humbled, appreciative and exhilarated about the opportunity to work for you, by you, with you and through you for the next couple of years, growing, developing and enhancing the Aviation Branch and the Soldiers -- many like them standing before you this morning," he said to Soldiers and leadership during the ceremony, adding that he'd do his best to uphold the standards set by his predecessor.
"Command Sergeant Major Blair, you have provided the leadership and mentorship this unit needed with so many Soldiers and family members, and truly impacted things like instructor training and certification, Soldier training and leader development, and enforcement of standards -- all things you gladly took on every single day -- you continued to train the men and women of tomorrow's Army," said Prickett. "Words can't describe how you were completely committed and made us see past ourselves to work toward the future of this great institution all while keeping Soldiers first."
Blair said he was thankful for the experience as the unit's senior NCO, adding that Soldiers always come first.
"The formation standing before you here is where it all starts," he said. "This formation epitomizes the brigade's motto -- Aviation starts here. Whether it's initial military training or professional military education, the Soldiers of 1st Av. Bde. are professional and relentless in the pursuit of developing Aviation Soldiers who are leaders who exemplify traditional Army values and professional ethics. I'm proud to say that I've served as a Golden Hawk Soldier."
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