"Sappers in" 130th Engineer Brigade passes the guidon

By 1st Lt. Grant Taulbee, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment CommandJuly 13, 2012

"Sappers in" 130th Engineer Brigade passes the guidon
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
"Sappers in" 130th Engineer Brigade passes the guidon
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Jeffery Milhorn (front right), outgoing commander of the 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, passes the guidon to Maj. Gen. Stephen Lyons (middle), 8th TSC commander, during the brigade's change of command ceremony at Hamilt... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
"Sappers in" 130th Engineer Brigade passes the guidon
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Diana Holland (front left), incoming brigade commander, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, receives the guidon from Maj. Gen. Stephen Lyons (center), 8th Theater Sustainment Command commander, during the brigade's change of... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
"Sappers in" 130th Engineer Brigade passes the guidon
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Stephen Lyons (rear left), 8th Theater Sustainment Command commander, speaks at the 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th TSC, change of command ceremony welcoming incoming brigade commander Col. Diana Holland (middle) and bidding aloha to Col. Jeffe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- The Soldiers and families of the 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, held a change of command ceremony at Hamilton Field on Schofield Barracks, July 11.

This marks a historic milestone as Col. Jeffery Milhorn relinquished command to Col. Diana Holland, making her the first female to command an active component engineer brigade.

Milhorn took command of the brigade upon redeployment taking the task of rebuilding training management, maintenance, and command supply discipline systems.

Under his command, the "Sappers In" brigade served as the theater engineer brigade in the Pacific Command area of responsibility by providing combat engineering, construction engineering, geospatial engineering, and dive operations to support more than 30 theater security cooperation program exercises. As well as supporting multiple deployments in support of operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom.

"Anyone in the Engineer Regiment has heard of Jeff- he has a tremendous and exceptional reputation," said Holland. "It is truly a privilege to know him and travel in his footsteps."

In recognition for his outstanding performance, Maj. Gen. Stephen Lyons, the 8th TSC commander, presented Milhorn with the Silver Order of the de Flurry medal and the Legion of Merit.

"Everyone who speaks of the 130th engineers, speaks of them with high regard and that's due to the outstanding leadership in this organization," said Lyons.

He went on to affirm that his full confidence in the new commander's ability to not only sustain but improve upon the high standard of leadership.

Milhorn thanked the Soldiers and families for their "tireless efforts" contributing to the high performance and ability to provide "technical expertise and tactical prowess [to] anyone we support, anytime, anywhere." He also commended the incoming commander.

"It is with tremendous pride that I change command with one of the Army's very best command teams, Col. and Mr. Holland," said Milhorn after passing the colors. "The Army certainly got it right when they selected you as the next team to lead this tremendous organization."

Holland now dons the 130th Eng. Bde. patch for the second time in her career. She served as a company executive officer and battalion assistant operations officer in the 94th Engineer Combat Battalion, 130th Eng. Bde., when the brigade was located in Germany. Since then, the brigade has relocated to Hawaii and officially uncased its colors at Schofield Barracks, Oct. 23, 2008.

Holland concluded the ceremony by expressing honor and humbleness in joining the team of Soldiers and families of the brigade.

"You have worked hard and enjoy a strong reputation far and wide," she said. "I look forward to serving with you."

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