JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (June 6, 2023) -- Members of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Fort Riley, Kansas, held a change of command ceremony June 6 welcoming their new commander.
Lt. Col. Kwame Agyemang took command of the 923rd Contracting Battalion and MICC-Fort Riley from Lt. Col. Randy Garcia during a ceremony officiated by Col. Jessie Griffith, commander of the 418th Contracting Support Brigade at Fort Cavazos, Texas.
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Griffith said today’s event is fitting as the nation observes the D-Day landing at Normandy in which the 1st Infantry Division played a critical role. He went on to say that Agyemang is no stranger to the 418th CSB and will leverage his last assignment as the operations officer with the 410th CSB at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where “he continued to build upon a stellar reputation supporting operations and countless exercises within the (Southern Command) area of responsibility all while gaining a keen understanding of the immense effects contracting can have at both the operational and strategic levels.”
Agyemang enlisted in the Army as an Apache Aircraft Repairer in May 1998 before earning his commission through the Army Officer Candidate School in September 2005 into the Armor Branch. He joined the Army Acquisitions Corps in 2013 through the Voluntary Transfer Incentive Program. Agyemang’s acquisition assignments include team leader and contracting officer with the 613th Contingency Contracting Team at Fort Cavazos, current operations chief for the 411th CSB in support of U.S. Forces Korea and its subordinate commands, and operations officer for the 418th CSB.
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In May 2018, he was selected for a one-year Worldwide Individual Augmentation System assignment serving as the Southern Command senior acquisition official in Afghanistan and staff contracting officer for NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan and Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan until his assignment with the 410th CSB.
“I am very happy to be here as a member of the 923rd Contracting Battalion team,” Agyemang said, also taking the time to thank his wife for her unwavering support and understanding. “To the 923rd family, you have accomplished a great feat amid multiple deployments and personnel vacancies. Maintain your good works.”
Griffith also highlighted the numerous achievements of Garcia’s command over the last two years including his assumption of battalion command during the pandemic before departing days later to join his unit that was deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Follow-on deployments by Garcia included the U.S. southern border for Operation Allies Welcome in 2021 and Romania in 2022 for Operation Assure, Deter and Reinforce.
“Under his leadership, the 923rd Contracting Battalion and MICC-Fort Riley have been one of the most relied upon teams in the 418th Contracting Support Brigade and the entire Mission and Installation Contracting Command,” Griffith said.
Garcia, who departs Fort Riley to attend the Naval War College, gave thanks to his team including his deputy director, division chiefs, officers, NCOs and civilian employees.
“Collectively, what haven’t you done? I’m extremely proud of you and look forward to watching you build on your legacy of character, competence and commitment,” Garcia said. “Teammates, you did the right things, the right way; there is nothing more important to me than to thank you … for your many accomplishments.”
As the ceremony came to a close, those in attendance had the opportunity to see a traditional Cavalry charge by members of the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment.
About the MICC:
Headquartered at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the Mission and Installation Contracting Command consists of about 1,300 military and civilian members who are responsible for contracting goods and services in support of Soldiers as well as readying trained contracting units for the operating force and contingency environment when called upon. MICC contracts are vital in feeding more than 200,000 Soldiers every day, providing many daily base operations support services at installations, facilitate training in the preparation of more than 100,000 conventional force members annually, training more than 500,000 students each year, and maintaining more than 14.4 million acres of land and 170,000 structures.
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