FORT BRAGG, N.C. - More than 300 Soldiers stood in formation at the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade Parade field to welcome their new commander during an assumption of command ceremony Thursday at Fort Bragg.
Colonel James D. Edwards took over as commander of the Army's first-ever battlefield surveillance brigade. Col. Robert P. Ashley, who departed months ago for his next assignment, previously commanded the unit.
Lieutenant Colonel David W. Trotter, commander of troops during the ceremony, had been serving as the brigade's acting commander.
Major General Daniel B. Allyn, acting XVIII Airborne Corps commanding general, presided over the ceremony. Allyn welcomed Edwards, his wife Silke and their Family back to Fort Bragg, where Edwards had previously served as chief of the Analysis and Control Element of the 82nd Airborne Division.
"Harry Truman once said, 'men make history and not the other way around," Allyn said Thursday. "In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.'
"That's exactly what this great unit has done throughout its history," he continued. "As the Army's first battlefield surveillance brigade, the 525th seamlessly blended intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations into a synchronized and full-spectrum capability that today's commanders must have to win on the battlefield."
Allyn said he witnessed the impact the unit had on the corp's success in Iraq during its 15-month deployment, which ended in April.
"This brigade's actions in northern and western Iraq during Operation Defeat Al-qaeda in the north were historic," he pointed out. "They helped to shape and change the way we think about doing an interagency operation."
He said as the Army's first battlefield surveillance brigade, the unit has set a standard for others to follow.
"Again, our Army has gotten it right and sent us a leader of extraordinary skill, talent and experience." Allyn said. "James has a diverse intelligence background and has served with our Army's finest formations. He has a wealth of combat experience with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and he fully understands the challenges that we face on today's battlefield.
"More importantly, he understands how to get the intelligence piece right," Allyn continued. "There is no one more qualified to assume command of the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade than Col. James Edwards ... You are clearly the right man, at the right time to lead this unit and at a time our nation needs it most."
Edwards said he was proud of his Soldiers, but humbled by their achievements.
"As we complete the brigade's transformation over the next few months, each of you has a unique opportunity to shape how the Army views and employs this formation," he said. "I'm looking forward to meeting that challenge with you and I'm confident that when our nation next calls us to war, we'll be able to do what the nation needs us to do."
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