CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- Col. Aaron Stanek took command of the 401st Army Field Support Brigade during a change of command ceremony, here, July 13.
The ceremony also included a change of responsibility, welcoming a new brigade command sergeant major.
Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, presided over the ceremony and awarded the brigade a Meritorious Unit Citation and an Army Safety Excellence streamer.
"I want to thank the whole team over here," O'Connell said. "I'm talking about the team of teams, not just the 401st but everybody that's involved in this huge support mission -- huge logistics mission -- making history every day in an ever-evolving and changing condition set."
Stanek assumed command from Col. Christopher Day, who held the position since 2015. Day is now slated to take over as the Director of the Command Initiatives Group at U.S. Army Materiel Command headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama.
"Col. Day and Command Sgt. Maj. Sheward, thank you for the hard work, competence, character and commitment that you've demonstrated throughout the last year, and good luck to both of you in your future endeavors," O'Connell said.
"Col. Stanek and Command Sgt. Maj. Williamson, I want to welcome you and your families to the Army Sustainment Command team," he said. "I'm confident that you'll continue the traditions and accomplishments of the 401st."
To mark the transfer of command, Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Sheward, outgoing 401st AFSB command sergeant major, handed the unit colors to Day, who then passed them to O'Connell.
O'Connell continued the rotation to Stanek. With his position as commander established, Stanek then passed the colors to the brigade's new command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Perry Williamson, for safekeeping.
In his farewell remarks, Day thanked his teammates.
"It has been our distinct honor and great fortune to have had the privilege of serving with the members of the 401st Army Field Support Brigade this past year," Day said. "Command Sgt. Maj. Sheward and I are truly humbled by the incredible accomplishments, in support of our Soldiers and our Army, that were accomplished by this brigade and our teammates.
"You have literally moved mountains and assured Army readiness in support of combat and contingency operations within the CENTCOM theater."
Day also spoke highly of the incoming command team while welcoming them to the brigade.
"To take this organization to the next level, the Army has selected two extraordinary leaders in Col. Aaron Stanek and Command Sgt. Maj. Perry Williamson," Day said. "With them at the helm, the brigade will continue to achieve remarkable success."
Stanek comes to Kuwait from the Joint Staff, Directorate for Logistics, at the Pentagon.
"During the short time that I have been here I can see that the 401st Brigade Team is a total Army team of Soldiers and civilians working with our contractor partners," Stanek said.
"I look forward to working with and learning from the command teams here and beyond the horizon, to understand their missions, and be the single face to the field that can leverage the full strategic support capabilities of Army Materiel Command for the Army, the joint force, the United States, and our allies."
Prior to the ceremony, O'Connell and Day put two streamers on the 401st AFSB flag to represent the Meritorious Unit Citation and Army Safety Excellence awards. O'Connell also personally presented individual awards to 401st AFSB personnel.
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