FORT HOOD, Texas - After more than two years under the command of Col. Bryan Roberts, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division welcomed a new commander.
Col. Ryan Gonsalves was took control of the Black Jack Brigade during a ceremony on Cooper Field, the division's parade field, April 8.
This was actually the second time Gonsalves and Roberts exchanged command of a unit. Roberts relinquished command of the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment to Gonsalves in 2002.
Gonsalves replaced Roberts, an native of Alexandria, Va., who commanded the brigade during its aide to victims of Hurricane Katrina in the greater New Orleans area and through a rotation in Central Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Col. Roberts is married to his wife Col. Cassandra Roberts of Detroit, Michigan, who is currently serving as Commander of the 64th Corps Support Group, 13th Corps Support Command. They have three children.
Gonsalves' career began when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Armor Corps after graduating from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's of science in business.
Gonsalves has been stationed with several units to include the 1st Armored Division, the 3rd Infantry Division and time at the Pentagon on the Joint Staff as senior operations officer.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device with two Oak Leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf clusters, the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist's Badge, the Joint Service Identification Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Gonsalves is married to the former Janet Drew of Temple, Texas and has two children, Brittany and Nathan.
Along with the brigade-level change of command, all the battalion commanders were replaced as well.
The 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment welcomed Lt. Col. Thomas Shoffner to replace Lt. Col. Patrick Matlock.
The 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry regiment said farewell to Lt. Col. Dale Kuehl and Command Sgt. Maj. Fidel Gomez. Lt. Col. Scott Jackson and Command Sgt. Maj. Ronnie Kelly took over command of the troops.
The 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment replaced Lt. Col. Jeffrey Sauer with Lt. Col. David Lesperance and replaced Command Sgt. Maj. Horace Gilbert with Command Sgt. Maj. Robert French.
Lt. Col. Terry Cook replaced Lt. Col. Michael Tarsa for command of the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment.
Lt. Col. Edward Repetski replaced Lt. Col. (P) Kenneth Crawford in the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion and Lt. Col. Jeffery Vieira turned the reigns of the 15th Brigade Support Battalion over to Lt. Col. Christopher Whittaker.
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