FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. – The U.S. Army Garrison bid farewell to Col. Mike Childs and welcomed Col. Margaret Hughes during its change of command ceremony July 1 on Brown Parade Field.
Maj. Gen. Richard Appelhans, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence & Fort Huachuca commanding general, hosted the ceremony. He began by thanking everyone for attending the ceremony and highlighted some of the accomplishments during Childs’ time in command.
“[Childs] navigated complex infrastructure challenges, championed the wellbeing of our service members, civilians and their families, and strengthened our vital relationships with the local community,” Appelhans said. “[…] In January 2025, with one weeks’ notice, [Childs] prepared our installation to receive more than 1,000 Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division […] to achieve national-level strategic objectives.”
In April of 2025, Fort Huachuca became one of the largest installations after the establishment of the National Defense Areas. The fort added more than 100,000 acres and spanned from here to the Texas New Mexico border.
Before speaking to Hughes, Appelhans thanked Childs for his leadership and his knack for “doing a lot with so little.”
“Great leaders deliver results in the present, and exceptional leaders set the conditions to deliver results for years to come, long after they left command,” Appelhans said. “[Childs], you’re one of those exceptional leaders.”
Next, Appelhans welcomed Hughes and her family to Team Huachuca and congratulated her on taking command.
“[Hughes], you come to this command with an impeccable reputation, a wealth of experience, and the exact right leadership traits to take on this challenging mission,” Appelhans said. “You have my implicit trust and confidence, and I look forward to seeing you do great things for Fort Huachuca.”
Following Appelhans’ speech, Childs took to the podium and began by thanking everyone for attending the ceremony.
Childs continued by saying he’s a lifelong New York Yankees fan and how he always admired Yogi Berra. He said one of his favorite “Yogiisms” is, “you can observe a lot just by watching.”
“At first, I thought that was just another classic Yogi line, but over the last two years, I discovered it was actually a pretty good leadership philosophy,” Childs said. “I thought I knew what a garrison commander did, and I didn’t. So, I watched, I listened, and I learned. […] This has been the most rewarding assignment of my career, not because of the title, not because of the responsibility, but because every day brought the privilege of serving the people who serve our Army.”
Childs explained to audience members why they didn’t see a large formation of Soldiers on the parade field for the ceremony – the people who support the mission are instead out in the field, in offices, doing what they do best.
“The nearly 1,200 professionals who sustain Fort Huachuca aren’t standing in formation,” Childs said. “They’re operating gates, maintaining ranges and facilities, supporting families, and responding to emergencies. They aren’t absent from today’s ceremony. They’re exactly where they belong – on mission and on point.”
Childs next spoke about the teammates he worked with in the command group and remarked that he was “blessed with the very best.” He thanked Command Sgts. Maj. Jeffrey Abramsohn and Terrina Anderson, and Dave Tiedemann, deputy to the garrison commander.
Before speaking to Hughes, Childs thanked his wife Liz and their three children Bella, Gabe and Ethan for their “love, patience, faith and unwavering support.”
Childs then welcomed Hughes “home” and remarked that Fort Huachuca was gaining an “exceptional commander” and the “leader it needs.”
“[Hughes], you inherit an extraordinary team,” Childs said. “[…] You are now the garrison commander of Fort Huachuca. You are now my garrison commander, and I am privileged to remain a citizen of this fort. I look forward to following you wherever you lead us next.”
Following Childs’ speech, Hughes took to the podium and began by thanking everyone in attendance and thanking Appelhans for “entrusting me with the Army’s home in Southern Arizona.”
Hughes continued by speaking to her daughters Maya and Lily and her husband Col. Troy Danderson, incoming G2, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command.
“To my daughters Maya and Lily, you made a PCS across the globe look easy,” Hughes said. “You are two brave, bold, and resilient little girls. I can think of no better place than Southern Arizona to install the values [Danderson] and I want to teach you. Thank you for being awesome.
“[Danderson], thank you for your unwavering love and support, and for the incredible example you set while leading U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden,” Hughes said. “I am deeply proud of you, I love you, and I am excited for the adventures that lie ahead of us in Southern Arizona.”
Hughes then spoke about the garrison’s “profound responsibility” of supporting the mission of training young Soldiers to thrive in a “rapidly changing global environment.” She continued by talking about the critical missions the garrison supports.
“By enabling the critical missions of USAICoE, NETCOM, and the 2-13th Aviation Regiment, the Fort Huachuca garrison serves as the bedrock for our Army operating in Europe, the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East,” Hughes said. “But our impact isn’t just global; it is also right here at home. This garrison proudly provides critical sustainment and support to the JTF-Southern Border mission, proving our readiness to defend the nation abroad and at our very own doorstep.”
Hughes finished her speech by saying she is humbled to join the ranks of her garrison teammates and is “grateful for the opportunity to serve this community and support the future of our Army.”
The ceremony concluded with the playing of The Army Song, an opportunity to say farewell to Childs and his family, and a welcome reception for Hughes and her family.
(Editor's note: The complete photo album is available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/us_army_fort_huachuca/albums/72177720334474625.)
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Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, 2-13th Aviation Regiment, Electronic Proving Ground, Joint Interoperability Test Command and more than 48 supported tenants representing a diverse, multiservice population. Our unique environment encompasses 946 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected electronic ranges, key components to the national defense mission.
Located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about 15 miles north of the border with Mexico, Fort Huachuca is an Army installation with a rich frontier history. Established in 1877, the Fort was declared a national landmark in 1976.
We are the Army’s Home. Learn more at https://home.army.mil/huachuca/.
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