At a 10 a.m. ceremony at the Sandy Basin Community Center on Dec. 16, Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos E. Esmurria turned over responsibility of being the senior enlisted advisor to the Fort Irwin garrison commander, Col. G. Scott Taylor, to the garrison's new Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel O'Brien.
In thanking Esmurria for his service with the garrison, Col. Taylor said, "Although I've only assumed command of the garrison at Fort Irwin a short five months ago, I've had the distinct privilege to learn volumes from CSM Carlos Esmurria….he has been a mentor, sounding board and a friend. He has eased my transition to this very different world of managing public works, providing for the quality of life of a community."
Taylor then welcomed his new Command Sergeant Major. "Joining us with vast experience in leadership, most recently serving as the battalion command sergeant major of the 93rd MP Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas, CSM O'Brien is eager to take on the challenges of his new title."
In thanking the garrison's 522 Soldiers and civilian employees, Esmurria, who served as Fort Irwin's command sergeant since Nov. 2013, said, "Over the past two years, I have seen progress across our installation and in our staff, through the building of the Resiliency Center, the building of our new SKIES program, the installation storm remediation project, the Soldier For Life- transition assistance program campus, the remodeling of the Warrior Zone, the development of SOPs and products such as our command and staff briefings, and our new garrison workforce development program."
In closing, Esmurria turned to his wife, saying, "Lastly, to my lovely wife and battle buddy, Yolanda. Honey, we made it. For the last 29 years, you have never complained, you have sacrifed, relocated, put up with deployments, extensive field problems, late nights and last-m9inuteengagements t o support your Soldier. I love you dearly, and hope that our next career will be as enjoyable and as fulfilling as our service in the Army."
Taylor, in his remarks earlier, noted that Esmurria will be staying here at Fort Irwin, serving his remaining time on active duty at the National Training Center, "tackling new challenges on behalf of the CG and CSM Rebuck, with a particular emphasis on improving and advancing the Soldier for Life program."
Biography of Command Sergeant Major Daniel S. O'Brien
Since joining the Army in 1990, Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel S. O'Brien has served in various overseas and stateside assignments, including 2nd MP Company, Camp Casey; Korea, Military Police Unit, Sierra Army Depot, California; 98th Area Support Group, and 1st MP Company, both in Wuerzburg, Germany; 34th MP Detachment, Fort Knox, Kentucky; D/787th MP BN, and 463rd MP Company, both at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and most recently at Fort Bliss as the Provost Sergeant Major of the 1st Armored Division.
In addition to all key leadership positions, O'Brien has served as a patrol/explosives detector dog handler, company operations sergeant, basic military police training division NCOIC and police transition team chief. He was deployed to Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq and on presidential and state department missions to Jordan, Pakistan, Senegal and Croatia.
O'Brien's formal military training includes military working dog handler's course, British Army sniper course, police transition team course, 7th Special Forces group village stability operations course and Army basic combative course Level 1 and Level II.
O'Brien's awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5 Oak Leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters) and Army Achievement Medal (4 Oak Leaf clusters). He is a member of both the Sergeant Morales and Sergeant Audie Murphy Cubs. In 2010 and 2011, he competed in the Army Combatives Championships and is also a recipient of the Military Police Regiment's Order of the Marechaussee (Bronze).
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