ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- The LOGCAP Support Brigade, headquartered at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., said goodbye to their commander and welcomed a new one during a ceremony in Heritage Hall here, Aug. 23.
In front of family, friends, and Soldiers, Col. Alex Fink relinquished command of the LSB to Col. Thomas Niles.
Brig. Gen. Phillip Jolly, commanding general of Army Reserve Sustainment Command headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., presided over the ceremony that was moved indoors after rain and high winds pushed through the island around 9:30 a.m.
"Change of command is always a bittersweet event," Jolly said. "It's a time when you're saying goodbye to a trusted comrade, a trusted leader. But, we get to welcome Colonel Tom Niles. He's going to come in here with fresh ideas, fresh energy, and he's going to take the brigade to new heights."
Standing in formation were the LSB's five battalion commanders and their colors.
The Logistics Civil Augmentation Program provides logistics, engineering, and construction support from commercial sources. The LSB is a U.S. Army Reserve unit, and, at the height of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, had more than 100 Soldiers deployed at any given time. Presently, the unit operates in 15 countries.
"Let me tell you a little about Colonel Fink," Jolly said. "He's the one that took this unit through the transition from LSU (LOGCAP Support Unit) to LOGCAP Support Brigade. He set up all five battalions. He moved the brigade headquarters from Fort Belvoir [Va.] to here, and he didn't miss a beat.
"I've enjoyed every minute of serving with Alex. He's the commander that you love to have in your formation. He's going to be missed, I'm going to miss him."
Fink leaves this assignment to take another command with 649th Regional Support Group headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
"The last 30 months have been filled with significant change for this brigade," Fink said. "There are five battalions and a new headquarters across five locations in four states. The leaders in this formation and the great warriors they represent are responsible for this, and I'm very proud to be the beneficiary."
Fink also addressed Jolly.
"Your uncompromising support provided me with the assurance and confidence that we were on track. Especially during some really challenging times. So, thank you, sir."
Niles is also taking back-to-back commands. Before assuming command of the LSB, he was the top officer for the Army Reserve Element, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command in Norfolk, Va.
"I'm certainly glad and very honored to be here today and have the opportunity to command such a tremendous organization," said Niles. "As General Jolly mentioned, I just came out of command at an Army Reserve unit which is focused on joint warfighting. So, certainly there are some parallels in what we will be doing here at the LOGCAP Support Brigade. Really looking forward to that."
Prior to the change of command ceremony, Jolly presented Fink with a Meritorious Service Medal for his service at the LSB.
Also attending the ceremony was Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, commanding general of U.S. Army Sustainment Command, who just experienced his own change of command ceremony, Aug. 21.
To see more photos of the ceremony, visit the ASC Flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/army_sustainment_command/sets/72157646472897739/.
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