FORT STEWART, Ga. (August 18, 2016) -- Lt. Col. Michael R. Biankowski, outgoing commander for 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, relinquished command to Lt. Col. Jayson Putnam during a ceremony Aug. 18 on Cottrell Field, Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Biankowski assumed command of 4-3 Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Nov. 14, 2014.
Under his leadership the battalion was reflagged as the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion and 4th IBCT was reflagged to 2nd IBCT.
While in command, the battalion participated in multinational missions around the world.
"During the past 21 months, these Gila Soldiers have trained hard," Biankowski said. "Sappers have recently redeployed from Joint Multinational Training Group -- Ukraine, while others are currently deployed to Atlantic Resolve in Europe and East African Response Force in Djibouti."
Biankowski highlighted the battalion's work with U.S. Africa Command where various elements deployed to Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi and Tunisia in support of 2nd IBCT's rotation as the regionally allocated force.
9th BEB Soldiers supported U.S. Army Africa-led annual, combined military exercises that brought U.S. military personnel with African partner nations together to improve readiness, promote interoperability, build capacity and strengthen partner relationships.
Biankowski's ability to lead and care for Soldiers was valued by his Soldiers.
"He had a common sense approach when it came to his leadership style," said Sgt. Christopher McAnally, a signal support systems specialist with Charlie Company, 9th BEB. "Lt. Col. Biankowski enforced discipline to the Army standards while leading from the front and keeping the Soldiers' welfare in mind."
"Lt. Col. Biankowski is very clear about what was expected from us as Soldiers and consistent with the standards he established from day one," said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jones, a career counselor with 9th BEB. "He has been a great battalion commander. It is easy to see he cares about not only the mission at hand but also each of us Gila Soldiers."
During the ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. David Hopkins, the outgoing command sergeant major for 9th BEB, also transferred responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Derrick Brown.
Hopkins arrived to 9th BEB in February 2014 and served as the senior enlisted advisor during Biankowski's time in command.
"I'd like to extend a special thanks to Command Sgt. Maj. Hopkins for his expert advice and commitment to doing routine things routinely and to standard," Biankowski said. "Your development of junior leaders will leave a mark on the battalion."
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