Col. Steven Hayden, outgoing commander of the 926th Engineer Brigade, addresses the audience during the brigade’s change of command ceremony, July 17 on Fort Stewart. According to 926th leadership, the unit became one of the top reserve units in readiness categories during Hayden’s command. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Reva Catholic, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)

Col. Steven Hayden, outgoing commander of the 926th Engineer Brigade, passes the brigade’s colors to Maj. Gen. Stephen Strand, the commanding general of the 412th Theater Engineer Command, during the 926th’s change of command ceremony, July 17 on Fort Stewart. The change of command ceremony is rich with symbolism and heritage and celebrates achievements of the outgoing commander while welcoming the incoming leadership to the command. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Reva Catholic, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)

Col. Kenneth Shubert, left, incoming commander of the 926th Engineer Brigade, Maj. Gen. Stephen Strand, the commanding general of the 412th Theater Engineer Command, Col. Steven Hayden, outgoing commander of the 926th, and Command Sgt. Maj. Benny Hubbard, outgoing command sergeant major of the 926th, march in step on their way to the unit’s color guard formation during the 926th’s change of command ceremony, July 17 on Fort Stewart. The change of command ceremony is rich with symbolism and heritage and celebrates achievements of the outgoing commander while welcoming the incoming leadership to the command. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Reva Catholic, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)

Col. Kenneth Shubert, incoming commander of the 926th Engineer Brigade, receives the brigade’s colors from Maj. Gen. Stephen Strand, the commanding general of the 412th Theater Engineer Command, during the 926th’s change of command ceremony, July 17 on Fort Stewart. The change of command ceremony is rich with symbolism and heritage and celebrates achievements of the outgoing commander while welcoming the incoming leadership to the command. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Reva Catholic, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)

Col. Kenneth Shubert addresses the audience for the first time as the commander of the 926th Engineer Brigade during the brigade’s change of command ceremony, July 17 on Fort Stewart. The 926th has deployed in support of operations across a broad spectrum, providing safe passage, improved facilities, and force protection. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Reva Catholic, 50th Public Affairs Detachment)

Sgt. Reva Catholic

50th Public Affairs Detachment

FORT STEWART, Ga. — The 926th Engineer Brigade, headquar­tered at Montgomery, Ala., welcomed its new commander, Col. Kenneth Shubert, during the unit’s change of command cer­emony, July 17 on Fort Stewart.

The ceremony was held after the bri­gade completed a combined-arms, wet-gap-crossing event alongside their active duty counterparts. The 3rd Infantry Division’s commanding general, Maj. Gen. Tony Aguto, and the XVIII Airborne Corps commander, Lt. Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, were in attendance for the suc­cessful wet gap crossing event, which fea­tured M1 Abrams tanks crossing a floating bridge constructed by the 926th.

According to Soldiers and leaders of the brigade, the outgoing commander, Col. Steven Hayden, served the brigade with distinction while maintaining readiness through effective training.

“My time as commander was very eventful,” Hayden said. “The culminating events and Iron Castle University [training and mentoring program for the junior captains] was really me giving a vision to the staff and supporting units and being inspired by seeing them accomplish that.”

Soldiers expressed how impactful Hayden’s command has been to the Brigade, while also embracing Shubert as their new commander.

“It was enlightening working with Col. Hayden,” said Maj. Mark Desouza, an assistant plans officer assigned to the 926th Engineer Brigade. “He pushed us ahead by leaps and bounds beyond what we were before.”

Desouza offered his enthusiasm for the 926th’s future and for Shubert as a driving force in their continued success.

Capt. Philip Parenti, assistant plans offi­cer for the 926th said, “It’s been really excit­ing, yet a whole lot of work building the many exercises and advertising our engi­neering capabilities during Col. Hayden’s command.”

Parenti said he’s excited to have Shubert continue the vision that Hayden estab­lished for the brigade and he’s looking forward to witnessing where the brigade goes.

Shubert expressed his excitement for maintaining the legacy of excellence as the new commander of the 926th.

“I’d like to continue the upward trajec­tory that Col. Hayden has started with the brigade, in terms of readiness and our ability to deploy rapidly and fight,” Shubert said.

After seeing the capabilities and readi­ness of the 926th during the wet gap cross­ing event in front of some of the Army’s premier commanders and leadership, Shubert said he is looking forward to being the most combat-ready brigade in the U.S. Army Reserves.