During her remarks, outgoing commander Lt. Col. Altwan Whitfield thanked the individuals and organizations that supported the battalion mission, including those from the local shipping industry such as vessel carriers, longshoremen and stevedores and units supporting rail, vessel and line haul operations. She also thanked the command team at the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, which was attending the ceremony virtually. VIEW ORIGINAL
CHARLESTON, S.C. May 21, 2021— Lt. Col. Rebecca D'Angelo assumed command of the 841st Transportation Battalion before the presiding officer, 597th Transportation Brigade Commander Col. Michael Patrick, personnel assigned to the 841st Transportation Bn. and a large number of friends and family at Joint Base Charleston May 21.
During her remarks, outgoing commander Lt. Col. Altwan Whitfield thanked the individuals and organizations that supported the battalion mission, including those from the local shipping industry such as vessel carriers, longshoremen and stevedores and units supporting rail, vessel and line haul operations. She also thanked the command team at the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, which was attending the ceremony virtually.
"This command was the opportunity of a lifetime and the memories are priceless," Whitfield said.
As the 841st Transportation Bn. commander, Whitfield was responsible for port operations on the East Coast and Puerto Rico and provided direct oversite for the processing of 1,000 vessels, 150,000 pieces of cargo and was critical to the successful collaboration between 20 commands across the Army, Coast Guard and Marine Corps, according to Patrick.
Whitfield also addressed the family members in attendance, including her 100-year-old grandmother.
"They are half of my village," Whitfield said. "They have been with me since birth and stood beside me since I was a kid. They are the reason I am standing here today," Whitfield said.
Then, Incoming Commander Lt. Col. Rebecca D'Angelo addressed the crowd.
"To stand here before you today and join this legendary team of logistics professionals is nothing short of a dream come true," D'Angelo said.
The ceremony closed with the Fort Jackson band playing the Army Song and the Transportation Song.
Whitfield's next assignment is at the Logistics Initiatives Group at the Pentagon.
The 841st Transportation Bn. is the single port manager for all Dept. Of Defense cargo moving through seaports on the Eastern Seaboard and through the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.
The 597th Transportation Bde. is a part of the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, responsible for integrating and synchronizing surface deployment and distribution capabilities in the Continental U.S, deploying and sustaining the Armed Forces off the East and Gulf coasts in support of global operations and U.S. Southern Command.
Additionally, the command stands ready to provide surface rapid port opening capabilities via the Army’s only three Rapid Port Opening Elements in support of its global Joint Task Force Port Opening mission.
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