405th AFSB ceremony marks change in leadership for ASC support to Europe, Africa

By Cameron Porter, 405th AFSB Public Affairs OfficerJuly 1, 2022

405th AFSB ceremony marks change in leadership for ASC support to Europe, Africa
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Chris Mohan, the commanding general of U.S. Army Sustainment Command, passed the colors of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade to Col. Crystal Hills, signifying the official change of leadership at the 405th AFSB. Hills assumed command of ASC’s Europe and Africa support brigade from Col. Brad Bane during a change of command ceremony on Daenner Kaserne in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 30. (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqué) VIEW ORIGINAL
405th AFSB ceremony marks change in leadership for ASC support to Europe, Africa
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The color guard and four subordinate battalions of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade render honors on NCO Field, Daenner Kaserne, Kaiserslautern, Germany, during the 405th Army Field Support Brigade Change of Command Ceremony, June 30. Army Col. Brad Bane relinquished command of the 405th AFSB to Col. Crystal Hills during the ceremony. (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqué) VIEW ORIGINAL

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Under beautiful blue skies and a gorgeous morning in Germany, the 405th Army Field Support Brigade conducted a change of command ceremony at NCO Field across the street from the brigade headquarters on Daenner Kaserne in Kaiserslautern, June 30.

After serving as the commander of the 405th AFSB for the past two years during a time when the 405th AFSB literally made history, Col. Brad Bane relinquished command of the brigade to the incoming commander, Col. Crystal Hills.

The commanding general of the U.S. Army Sustainment Command at Rock Island, Illinois, Maj. Gen. Chris Mohan, officiated the change of command ceremony and provided guest remarks. Mohan took the time to thank Bane and his family and welcome Hills as the new commander of the 405th AFSB.

“This is a great day. It’s my privilege to be here,” Mohan said.

405th AFSB ceremony marks change in leadership for ASC support to Europe, Africa
A fraction of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade is represented in this photo taken on the parade field at Daenner Kaserne in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 29. In the front of the formation is the outgoing 405th AFSB command group and the incoming 405th AFSB command group. The 405th AFSB is comprised of thousands of Soldiers, Army civilians, local national employees from across Europe, and contractors. The 405th AFSB provides materiel enterprise support to U.S. forces throughout Europe and Africa. (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqué) VIEW ORIGINAL

Mohan also took the time to address all that the 405th AFSB has accomplished over the course of the last couple of years – from supporting multiple DEFENDER-Europe exercises to Operation Allies Refuge and Operation Allies Welcome supporting thousands of displaced Afghan citizens. But most notably, Mohan addressed what the 405th AFSB accomplished over the last several months supporting operations in Europe in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, making history with its Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 and its Logistics Civil Augmentation support programs.

“Russia’s unwarranted invasion of the Ukraine in late February has triggered a defensive action by NATO,” Mohan explained. “We will not give up one inch of NATO territory.”

The 405th AFSB responded by deploying and issuing more Army Prepositioned Stocks than has ever been done before, said Mohan. The 405th AFSB not only supported an entire armored brigade combat team from the 3rd Infantry Division deployed to Europe from the U.S., the brigade also supported a multitude of other units – from the 82nd Airborne Division to the XVIII Airborne Corps, plus several separate companies and other units and organizations.

“You did it on short notice. You prepared, staged, moved and issued thousands – and I’m talking thousands – of weapons and pieces of equipment – full sets, spare parts, armored and tracked vehicles, howitzers, the list goes on and on,” Mohan said.

405th AFSB ceremony marks change in leadership for ASC support to Europe, Africa
From left to right: Col. Crystal Hills, Maj. Gen. Chris Mohan and Col. Brad Bane render honors during the 405th Army Field Support Brigade Change of Command Ceremony. Hills assumed command of the 405th AFSB from Bane during the ceremony, June 30. Mahon, the commanding general of U.S. Army Sustainment Command, presided. (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqué) VIEW ORIGINAL

“All in all, I think it was about 2,000 truckloads,” he added.

A generation of logisticians now understands what this unit, U.S. Army Sustainment Command and U.S. Army Materiel Command bring to the fight, echoed Bane during his remarks.

“Thomas Edison said opportunities are missed by most because they’re dressed in coveralls and look like work. This unit did not miss any opportunities. You donned the coveralls, came together as a team, put the work in and got the job done. You achieved greatness and lived up to our motto ‘Support the Warrior,’” Bane said.

405th AFSB ceremony marks change in leadership for ASC support to Europe, Africa
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Margaret Green-Kinloch, the auntie of Col. Crystal Hills, receives a bouquet of yellow roses at the 405th Army Field Support Brigade Change of Command Ceremony, June 30. Hills assumed command of the 405th AFSB from Col. Brad Bane. (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqué) VIEW ORIGINAL
405th AFSB ceremony marks change in leadership for ASC support to Europe, Africa
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Louden Bane and his two brothers, Noah and Kai, the three sons of Col. Brad Bane and Lori Bane, receive gifts of appreciation from the 405th Army Field Support Brigade team during the 405th AFSB change of command ceremony on Daenner Kaserne in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 30. The Bane family departs the 405th AFSB and Germany for their next assignment in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Bane will be the deputy director of the J4 logistics and engineering directorate, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqué) VIEW ORIGINAL

During his remarks, Mohan also talked about the 405th AFSB’s new commander. He told attendees that Hills is no stranger to the brigade or its mission, as she once served as the commander of the 405th AFSB’s Army Field Support Battalion-Africa in Livorno, Italy.

Colonel Crystal Hills is well versed in NATO, she is well versed in operations in the European theater, and there is nobody better qualified to lead this brigade, Mohan said.

“Crystal (Hills), you know. You’ve been watching what this brigade is doing. You’re getting integrated now into the operations of the brigade, and as I said out on that field – you have my 100 percent trust and confidence, and if you look after your teammates, they’re going to look after you, and you will not fail, and I know that for sure,” Mohan said.

405th AFSB ceremony marks change in leadership for ASC support to Europe, Africa
Army Col. Crystal Hills, the new commander of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade, provides remarks at the 405th AFSB change of command ceremony on Daenner Kaserne in Kaiserslautern, Germany, June 30. Hills assumed command of the 405th AFSB from Col. Brad Bane whose next assignment will be deputy director of the J4 logistics and engineering directorate, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii. Hills last assignment was chief of staff and senior fellow with New America in Washington, D.C., where she advanced research in the Army’s adoption of semi-autonomous warehouses. (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqué) VIEW ORIGINAL

“I’m honored and privileged to serve our nation and to fully support the Soldiers and civilians and families of this great team as your commander,” Hills said.

“I’m happy to be back home. I’m happy to see the old faces and meet new,” Hills said. “Your hard work and dedication continues to pay off, and this ceremony is a direct reflection of your excellence. Thank you for the smooth transition and warm welcome.”

Bane’s next assignment will be deputy director of the J4 logistics and engineering directorate, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Honolulu, Hawaii.

405th AFSB ceremony marks change in leadership for ASC support to Europe, Africa
Lori Bane receives a Public Service Commendation Medal from Maj. Gen. Chris Mohan, the commanding general of U.S. Army Sustainment Command, minutes before the start of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade Change of Command Ceremony, June 30. Lori provided unwavering support to the brigade and the U.S. Army Garrison Rhineland-Pfalz community over the past two years, and was recently selected as the USAG Rhineland-Pfalz volunteer of the year. (Photo Credit: Elisabeth Paqué) VIEW ORIGINAL

Hills arrives to the 405th AFSB following her assignment as the chief of staff and senior fellow with New America in Washington, D.C., where she advanced research in the Army’s adoption of semi-autonomous warehouses. She also served as the senior supply and logistics officer for the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Headquarters in Turkey, and before commanding AFSBn-Africa she served at the Pentagon on the Army Transition Team for the 39th Chief of Staff of the Army. In addition, she was the Quartermaster Enlisted Branch Chief at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and she supported COVID-19 relief efforts with the White House Supply Chain Task Force and as a mentor for Johns Hopkins’ COVID Design Challenge.

The 405th AFSB is assigned to U.S. Army Sustainment Command and under the operational control of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The brigade is headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and provides materiel enterprise support to U.S. Forces throughout Europe and Africa – providing theater sustainment logistics; synchronizing acquisition, logistics and technology; and leveraging the U.S. Army Materiel Command’s materiel enterprise to support joint forces. For more information on the 405th AFSB, visit the official website and the official Facebook site.