FORT RUCKER, Ala. (April 17, 2013) -- The 1-58th Airfield Operations Battalion Guardian Eagles received a new command team recently in the form of new commander Lt. Col. Daniel Y. Morris and Sgt. Maj. Dexter L. Kimble.
The change in responsibility ceremony was conducted April 10 at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum where the new battalion sergeant major was welcomed and took charge of troops.
Sergeant Maj. Dexter L. Kimble's previous assignment was the 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group forward sergeant major.
"I stand here today humbled by the awesome level of responsibility that the title of battalion sergeant major brings," he said during the ceremony. "The opportunity to coach, teach, mentor, develop and lead America's sons and daughters, whether in times of peace or in conflict, is a privilege, not a right."
It is a privilege earned by those who came before Kimble and is a privilege that is constantly paid for daily by those whom Kimble has been tasked to lead, according to the new sergeant major.
"I do not take this task lightly. I am fired up about this opportunity, this fine organization and I am fired up to be your battalion sergeant major," he said while "signing on."
The new commander, Lt. Col. Daniel Y. Morris, was welcomed with a change of command ceremony April 16 at the museum, where Col. Michael L. Shenk, commander of 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group, charged him to command with passion and compassion, eagerness and patience, aggressiveness and control.
Morris attended flight school on the installation and returned in June as the executive officer for the Army Air Traffic Services Command. He said it is fantastic to be working with the Guardian Eagles.
"The transition was smooth and we are excited as a Family to take command together. Our Soldiers are preparing and doing a fantastic job," he said.
The outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Terry A. Meyer, said that he couldn't have asked for a better team to lead the men and women of the Guardian Eagles into the future.
Morris ended the ceremony by thanking attendees.
"I am humbled by the trust that has been given to me to lead the nation's most sacred and precious commodity. I look forward to spending time with my Soldiers and getting them trained," he said.
In the past, the Eagles have been inactivated and reorganized many times around the globe, but as of late have found a permanent home at Fort Rucker.
On February 13, 2007, the unit was reorganized as the 348th Airfield Operations Detachment and assigned to the 164th TAOG Army Forces Command. This reorganization was executed as part of the Total Army Transformation of Air Traffic Services organizations, which resulted in the alignment of air traffic services companies placed in general support of Aviation battalions of divisional combat Aviation brigades, and to establish and manage enduring airfields at the theater Army level in both expeditionary or enduring combat environments, according to Guardian Eagle history.
On May 16, 2008, 1-58th Airfield Operations Battalion was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Army's first AOB to deploy to combat. The battalion conducted split-based airfield management and air traffic services missions in Kuwait and Iraq.
But the 1-58th AOB's most recent deployment was in February 2011. The AOB was deployed in support of Operation New Dawn where the battalion again conducted split-based airfield management and air traffic services missions in Kuwait and Iraq.
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