HCB welcomes incoming command sergeant major

By Lisa R. RhodesFebruary 17, 2011

HCB welcomes incoming command sergeant major
Lt. Col. Thomas Boone, commander of Headquarters Command Battalion, prepares to pass the unit guidon to Command Sgt. Maj. Cedric J. Thomas, the unit's new senior noncommissioned officer, at a change of responsibility ceremony Tuesday at the Post Thea... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. -- Pledging to work to make Fort Meade "the premier installation in the U.S. Army," Command Sgt. Maj. Cedric J. Thomas became the senior noncommissioned officer for Headquarters Command Battalion in a change of responsibility ceremony Tuesday afternoon.

"I stand ready today to serve this community," said Thomas at the Post Theater, where the ceremony was held. "I am a servant leader."

Thomas assumed the position from Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. Smith, who served as the battalion's senior NCO for 19 months. Smith will become the command sergeant major for the installation upon the retirement of Command Sgt. Maj. Mike W. Watkins in May.

Lt. Col. Thomas Boone, commander of Headquarters Command Battalion, called Thomas a "phenomenal leader" and welcomed him and his family to the battalion and Fort Meade community.

The command sergeant major carries out policies and standards of the performance, training, appearance and conduct of enlisted personnel and also advises and initiates recommendations to the commander and staff, and is expected to function completely without supervision.

The mission of the Headquarters Command Battalion is to ensure Soldier readiness and provide quality support services, law enforcement, military working dog teams, force protection and base support operations to more than 12,000 service members, 35,000 civilians and 60,000 family members and retirees in the Fort Meade community.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Boone said Thomas "has all the credentials needed and has displayed all the necessary attributes to tackle the toughest assignments."

A native of Louisiana, Thomas joined the delayed entry program for the Army after graduating high school. He entered active duty in June, 1986 as a motor transport operator at Fort Dix, N.J.

Thomas' civilian education includes two associate degrees. His military education includes completion of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy and Drill Sergeants School. He has held every leadership position assigned for his military occupational specialty and is a combat veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom I and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Thomas also deployed to Panama in support of the relief efforts for Hurricane Mitch. His two most recent assignments include deployment to Haiti in support of Operation United Response and the command sergeant major post for the 7th Sustainment Brigade Command at Fort Eustis, Va.

The change of responsibility ceremony began with the invocation by Sgt. 1st Class Buffie Hall, the noncommissioned officer in charge for the battalion chaplain's office, and the presentation of yellow roses to Thomas's wife, Trina, and red roses to Smith's wife, Audrey.

Distinguished guests included Installation Commander Col. Daniel L. Thomas; Deputy Installation Commander John Moeller; Watkins; Col. David Hembree, commander of Fort Meade Dental Activity; Col. Gary L. Keck, commandant of the Defense Information School; Command Sgt. Maj. Edwin Rodriguez of First Army Division East; Command Sgt. Maj. Emma Krouser of DINFOS; Command Sgt. Maj. Don Harbin of the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade; and Command Master Chief John S. Drenning of the Navy Information Operations Command Maryland.

In his parting remarks, Smith thanked the battalion's Soldiers and civilians for their "untiring support," and called Boone his "battle buddy."

Smith said he is transferring the mantle of leadership to "a proven warrior" and looks forward to "improving the Fort Meade battle space" in his new position.

In his remarks, Thomas thanked the Fort Meade community for its warm welcome and accepted the responsibilities of his new position.

"I accept the challenge that the Installation Management Command has for me ... to make Fort Meade the very best in the U.S. Army," he said.