COL Christopher Church receives the passing of the colors from Mr. Mize, the
Installation Management Command-Europe Director.

COL Christopher Church speaks as the new Commander of USAG Poland

COL Christopher Church takes command of USAG Poland

U.S. Army Garrison Poland has its first Change of Command ceremony.

POZNAN, Poland - The first U.S. Army Garrison in Poland had another historic moment with its first Change of Command. The previous Commander of USAG Poland, Colonel Jorge Fonseca was succeeded by Colonel Christopher Church, as the new Commander.

USAG Poland began as a pilot program in 2019 under the 21st Training Support Command and transitioned to IMCOM in October 2022. The garrison re-designated from an Area Support Group to U.S. Army Garrison Poland on March 21, 2023.

COL Christopher Church was born in March of 1979 and was raised in West Virginia. He earned his commission in the Active Army through West Virginia University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (Crime and Criminal Control) in 2001. COL Church also earned a Master of Public Administration from NC State University in 2018 and a Master of Strategic Studies from the US Army War College in 2022. Before taking command of USAG Poland he was the Provost Marshal, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Liberty, North Carolina. He is married to Batina Church and has two children.

COL Fonseca speaks at the USAG Poland Change of Command

COL Jorge Fonseca receives the colors from CSM Cistaro.

Mr. Tommy Mize, the Installation Management Command-Europe Director, passes the garrison colors to Col. Christopher Church, the incoming U.S. Army
Garrison-Poland Commander, during a change of command ceremony at Camp Kosciuszko.

COL Church gives the colors to CSM Cistaro.

The out-going and in-coming commanders shake hands at the change of command.

The new USAG Poland Commander addresses guests at the Change of Command ceremony.

Mr. Tommy Mize attended the change of command.

CSM Joeseph Cistaro participated in the Change of Command ceremony.

Soldiers from the eleven-garrison site in Poland were in attendance at the ceremony.

The essence of the traditional Change of Command Ceremony is the “Passing of the Colors.” This event symbolizes the actual moment of the change of command from the current commander to the incoming commander. The very soul of a military unit is symbolized by the colors under which its Soldiers serve. The colors stand as a reminder of past glories, stand guardian over present endeavors, and act as an inspiration for the future. The ceremony was held at Camp Kosciuszko in Poznan, Poland which is named after the revolutionary war hero, Tadeusz Kościuszko. Kościuszko was a Polish officer who fought for American independence. His legacy is a symbol of the long-standing alliance between the United States of America and Poland.

We welcome COL Church as the new Commander of USAG Poland and thank COL Fonseca for his dedicated service.