Col. Gonsalves promoted to brigadier general

By Spc. Nathan Thome (4th ID)April 2, 2013

Brig. Gen. Gonsalves
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Brigadier General Ryan F. Gonsalves, deputy commanding general for maneuver, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, speaks to an audience of Soldiers, Family and friends after his promotion to brigadier general at a retreat cerem... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Belt
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Army Chief of Staff, General Raymond Odierno (far left), presents Brigadier General Ryan F. Gonsalves with The General Officer Belt following his promotion at a ceremony on Founders' Field August 17, 2012. Gonsalves' Family (left... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Family and friends
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Brigadier General Ryan F. Gonsalves (left), and Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Raymond Odierno, sit with their Families and friends during Gonsalves' promotion ceremony on Founders' Field, August 17, 2012. Gonsalves has been serving a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gen. Odierno
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Army Chief of Staff, General Raymond Odierno, addresses Soldiers, Families and friends during the promotion ceremony from colonel to brigadier general, for Brig. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves on Founders' Field, August 17, 2012. Gonsalv... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Promotion
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. " Army Chief of Staff, General Raymond Odierno (left), promotes Col. Ryan F. Gonsalves to brigadier general during a retreat ceremony on Founders' Field, August 17, 2012. Gonsalves' Family (left to right): wife, Janet; daughter, Br... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Gonsalves has been serving as the deputy commanding general since arriving on Fort Carson in 2011.

"It's a special day for the Gonsalves Family, but it's also a special day for our Army," said Odierno. "As Col. Ryan Gonsalves crosses an important threshold to join the distinguished ranks of the general officers corps."

More importantly we recognize his potential to serve in positions of even higher responsibility, Odierno added.

"Gonsalves demonstrated early on in his lieutenant years his leadership potential to become a senior leader in the Army," said Odierno. "He has proven himself in peace and in war, as a dynamic and great example of the type of broadened leader we need as we move this Army into the future."

Odierno pinned Gonsalves, with his wife, Janet, and two kids, Brittany and Nathan, joining him in the reviewing are.

After receiving his rank, Gonsalves was presented with two distinctive items as well: the first round fired by the Salute Battery at the ceremony and the General Officer Belt, in honor of his accomplishment.

Unique to general officers, The General Officer Belt, came to be in 1843 when the Army Chief of Staff, George C. Marshall, decided that all generals needed a belt when carrying side arms, except in combat.

Gonsalves, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., received his commission in the Army as a second lieutenant in 1984, and reported to Fort Carson's 4th Inf. Div., a unit close to home, as his first duty station.

During Gonsalves' 28 years of service, he has been stationed throughout the U.S. and Germany, and has also deployed to Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

In 2011, he came full circle and returned to his very first duty station, Fort Carson.

"Janet and I are very humble to be welcomed back into the 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson where I was born," said Gonsalves. "To be promoted today, is very touching and means a lot to us."

As the ceremony came to a close, Soldiers, Families and friends of Gonsalves and the 4th Inf. Div., congratulated the new brigadier general and wished him luck in his future endeavors and opportunities.

"It's a special gift to be in a division, and it's even more special to be in the 4th Inf. Div.," said Gonsalves. "I really appreciate all of you coming out today to celebrate, I can't be more thankful or humble with your presence and your participation in today's ceremony."