Col. James Ellerson accepted command of U.S. Army Garrison - Fort Jackson during a ceremony Friday at post headquarters.
With the heat barely kept in check by trees decorating headquarters grounds, Ellerson remained cool -- he already was acquainted with South Carolina's often-treacherous heat waves. He might have been born in the wintery tundra that is Ypsilanti, Michigan, but he was reared in Charleston.
Ellerson said last week that he was excited about his new mission in South Carolina.
"The opportunity to command at this level is an honor and a privilege, and something that I won't take lightly," Ellerson said during the ceremony.
"As a member of this command team, I look forward to serving Soldiers, civilians, Families, units and the surrounding communities of Fort Jackson."
Davis Tindoll Jr., IMCOM Atlantic Region director, said Ellerson brought extensive experience to his new position.
"He comes to us from the Pentagon, where he served with the Joint Staff Directorate for Strategic Plans and Missile Defense Policy," Tindoll said. "His distinguished service as an Air Defense Artilleryman led to battalion command at Fort Bliss (Texas), with a deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom."
The deployment was the first of five during Ellerson's career, he said.
"Col. Ellerson, I'm confident that with your demonstrated leadership, you will build on the successes of your predecessors," Tindoll said. "The challenges are many, but I am confident you will bring new energy and excellence to the garrison command and this Army community of excellence."
Ellerson graduated from Fort Valley State University as a distinguished military graduate in 1994, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Defense Artillery. He has a Master's of Public Administration from Harvard's JFK School of Government, a Master of Military Arts and Science in Strategy from the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base and a Master's of Strategic Studies from the Army War College.
His military education includes the Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses; Combined Arms and Services Staff School; Air Command and Staff College; and the U.S. Army War College.
"James, you've got a tremendous professional reputation," post commander Brig. Gen. Roger Cloutier Jr. said during the ceremony. "I watched over the past few days as you guys have transitioned, and I know our garrison is in good hands."
Ellerson replaces Col. Michael Graese, who is heading to the Pentagon to be executive officer to the assistant chief of staff for installation management for the Department of the Army.
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