Command Sgt. Maj. Chad Cuomo receives a memento and hand shake for his service from 12th Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Douglas VanWeelden. Cuomo was replaced at the battalion by Command Sgt. Maj. William Yeargan, and now serves as the new Command Sg...

12th Aviation Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. William Yeargan addresses friends, family and Soldiers during a Change of Responsibility Ceremony held in the Miller Hangar on Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Va. Oct. 6. Yeargan replaces Command Sgt. M...

A Charge of Responsibility ceremony was held by the 12th Aviation Battalion "Wings of Freedom" at the Miller Hangar on Davison Army Air Field, Fort Belvoir, Va., Oct. 6, transferring the duties of Command Sgt. Maj. from Sgt. Maj. Chad Cuomo to Sgt. Maj. William Yeargan.

Cuomo entered the Army in 1983, and has held a wide variety of positions serving at all leadership levels from Squad Leader to Command Sgt. Maj. and has now advanced to his new duty as the Command Sgt. Maj. at Headquarters Army Air Operations Group, on Fort McNair, D.C.

"The higher up you go in the chain of command, the less daily interaction you get with Soldiers, and that is what I will miss the most about this job," said Cuomo. "The Battalion's rate of promotion has been very good, and seeing our Soldiers get promoted at such a high rate was a very satisfying part of my time with the 12th."

Yeargan enlisted in the Army in 1985, logged over 3000 flight hours and has served in five overseas assignments which include three combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom IV as well as Operation Enduring Freedom VIII and X with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

"I am really looking forward to the unique position this command has here in the National Capital Region," said Yeargan. "We also do a lot of Fallen Hero missions and that is near and dear to my heart. I lost five Soldiers during my previous tour. I am also looking forward to spending some time with my family that the mission here will hopefully permit me."

Yeargan's last command was with the 101st Aviation Regiment, Task Force Shadow in Kandarhar, Afghanistan.

The mission of the 12th Aviation Battalion is to conduct contingency operations for the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region and to provide aviation support for the nation's leaders. Those supported by the battalion include the members of the President's cabinet, Congressional leaders, foreign dignitaries, and the generals of the Armed Forces.