FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Fort Drum's garrison guidon passed from one Special Forces officer to another Wednesday as Col. Bryan J. Laske assumed command from Col. Gary A. Rosenberg during a ceremony at Magrath Gym.
Davis D. Tindoll Jr., U.S. Army Installation Management Command Atlantic Region director, said the heart of IMCOM are the garrisons, and the individuals who lead them are integral to the success of their communities of Soldiers, Family Members and Civilians who live and work there. The job requires leaders who are capable, innovative and motivated to handle the challenges of garrison command.
Tindoll said Fort Drum is fortunate to have had Rosenberg's leadership these past three years.
"Under his command, the garrison provided critical support to Soldiers deploying to numerous deployments throughout the world, while assuring the well-being of their Families here at home," Tindoll said.
Tindoll described Rosenberg as a "cost-management warrior" who led Fort Drum through a turbulent time of sequestration and furlough while always achieving or exceeding the standards.
"Due in large part to his personal leadership, Fort Drum Garrison achieved excellence in customer support in nultiple program areas - Sponsorship, Soldier For Life, Transition, just to name a few," he said.
Over the past three years, Tindoll said, Fort Drum has been recognized with numerous best practices awards for its environmental, antiterrorism and fire and emergency services programs, as well as being honored with the Army Community of Excellence award in 2012 and 2013.
"Gary, you've always said you wanted to provide the best Soldier and Family experience here at Fort Drum. I think you've accomplished that task," Tindoll said. "You've made a lasting impression on this installation and the garrison workforce."
Rosenberg's remarks largely focused, in his words, on three things: "People, people and people," meaning the Soldiers and their Families, the local community members and leaders, and the Fort Drum civilian workforce. He said having an all-star team of dedicated professionals is what made his last Army assignment the best one.
"I have absolutely loved this job. It has been the most rewarding job I've ever had, and outside of being a husband and a father, it has been the most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life," Rosenberg said.
After two of the worst winters in recent North Country history, he thanked the airfield personnel for keeping operations going, to include deploying more than 3,000 Soldiers last year on a training rotation, and Public Works for keeping the lights on and the water flowing.
"The Army is all about people, and we have the best people right here in this community, on this installation and in this garrison," Rosenberg said. "All of the successes, all of the accomplishments and all of the credit goes to you. It has been an honor and a privilege to have worked alongside you and to be considered one of you."
Rosenberg said that Laske has the breadth of experience to carry on the mantle of garrison leadership as Fort Drum welcomes him and his wife and two young daughters to the community.
"He's a humble and decisive leader who will no doubt take this organization to the next level," Rosenberg said. "As you know, you have a stellar team, surrounded by one of the most supportive and warmest communities in the Army."
Laske previously served as a U.S. Army Fellow at the U.S. Department of State, and he commanded 1st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (AA), at Fort Campbell, Ky.
Among his assignments, he served as staff officer at the Pentagon in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and was a transition team commander in Afghanistan, where he advised the Afghan National Army in preparation for the NATO forces drawdown in 2014.
He enlisted in 1991 and was commissioned into the Engineer Corps in 1993 through Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga.
Laske used a historical football reference to mark the occasion of this command change. He recalled going to a football game with his father in the early '70s when the Baltimore Colts were playing a home game against the Dallas Cowboys. It was a shock to all when the Colts replaced its famed quarterback Johnny Unitas with the relatively unknown Marty Domres.
"Today, I'm replacing Gary Rosenberg. Johnny Unitas is one of the deeply honored, treasured icons of the Baltimore area and NFL. Gary Rosenberg is an icon and treasure of not only Fort Drum, but of the Installation Management Command as well as the Special Forces," Laske said. "It is a deep honor for me to follow him in this position. We are deeply honored to be here."
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