CHIÈVRES, Belgium -- The 39th Strategic Signal Battalion held a Change of Command ceremony where Lt. Col. Nicholas E. Prisco relinquished command to Lt. Col. Ericka M. Brooks May 29 at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium.
Prisco, a native of Little Falls, New York, served as commander for nearly two years and oversaw the operation and maintenance of a network spanning 11 countries and 20-plus remote sites.
The 39th Signal Battalion has been a key component in the developing the U.S. military presence in Eastern Europe, helping to deter Russian aggression and assuring NATO partners and allies of the U.S.'s resolve, said guest speaker Col. Carl Worthington, 2nd Theater Signal Brigade commander. He remarked that the 39th, above all others, has been stretched the most in the past two years. From Estonia to the UK to Norway to the Ukraine and seven new sites in Poland the 39th has provided "high quality and reliable communications across an ever expanding European theater."
"The adaptability and innovation of this team is a constant reminder of the why this is the brigade of excellence," he said, echoing the brigade motto. "There may have been some growing pains along the way as we expanded rapidly across Eastern Europe, but this team in Chièvres proves there is no mission too big or too difficult to handle."
In his farewell address Prisco hailed the tireless work of the 39th to enable mission command for U.S. senior leaders assigned throughout NATO.
"You have loyally and faithfully taken the commander's intent and accomplished more than I could have imagined two years ago," he said.
Brooks, a native of Escondido, California, made briefs remarks thanking Prisco and the 39th Signal Battalion for the warm welcome and said she looked forward to working with 'the brigade of excellence."
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