Transporters honors outgoing leaders

By 3D Sustainment Command Expeditionary Public AffairsMay 12, 2009

Transporters honors outgoing leaders
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Transporters honors outgoing leaders
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Robert Richard, a Laplata, Md. native, accepts the 68th Transportation Company's colors from 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Kristan Hericks, a native of Irvine, Calif., during a change of command ceremony at Camp ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Mannheim, Germany's 68th Transportation Company, 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, conducted a change of command ceremony here April 3.

The 419th CSSB Commander, Lt. Col. Kristan Hericks, of Irvine, Calif., and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Swanson, of Perris, Calif., presided over the transfer of command ceremony from Maj. Donna Johnson, a Columbus, Ohio native to incoming Capt. Robert Richard, a native of Laplata, Md.

During the 15 months deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 68th Trans. Co., worked on numerous joint endeavors devoted to developing the IA General Transport Regiment into a more capable, logistically focused organization and conducted sustainment convoys supporting Coalition forces throughout Iraq.

Also in attendance were Soldiers and Leaders from the 10th Sustainment Brigade and representatives from the Iraqi Army with whom the 68th Trans. Co. has worked with during their deployment.

The incoming commander was selected, by the unit's higher command from Kaiserslautern, Germany's 28th Transportation Battalion, after serving as battle captain during the battalion's concurrent deployment. Both Richard and the incoming first sergeant look forward to leading the unit through their remaining deployment and redeployment process while continuing to successfully develop the 68th Trans. Co. here and in Germany.

Both Johnson and 1st Sgt. Brian Stoops, of Butler, Pa., were selected for promotion and continuing on to attend their respective training schools.