CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - The 402nd Army Field Support Brigade welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony here July 26.
Col. John S. Laskodi, who is arriving from Washington D.C., where he completed a master’s degree in national resource strategy at the National Defense University, assumed command from Col. Lawrence W. Fuller, who will next serve at Army Materiel Command headquarters in Huntsville, Ala..
Maj. Gen. Yves J. Fontaine, commanding general of the Army Sustainment Command, who served as the presiding officer for the ceremony, remarked on the historical significance of Fuller’s mission.
“As the 402nd commander, you sustained the fight on terror with operations throughout Iraq and Kuwait and you spearheaded the Army’s largest retrograde operation since World War II,” Fontaine said. “You oversaw the successful transfer of M1114 Up-armored HUMVEES, valued at 212 million dollars to the governments of Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Fontaine remarked on the mission ahead that Laskodi takes on.
“The 402nd AFSB will continue to ensure that retrograde of equipment occurs in a timely manner in order to ensure successful reset of our forces and will continue with the successful support of the DOS (Department of State) as they expand their operations in Iraq,’ he said.
Laskodi’s career includes several deployments.
He deployed in January 2002 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM I, then deployed with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in March 2003 for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM I. In January 2006, he deployed to Iraq with the NATO Training Mission " Iraq. As the commander for the 189th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, he deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM XVIII from January 2008 until April 2009.
Laskodi said he looks forward to the mission ahead with the 402nd team. “To the Power Forward team, I am looking forward to serving together, especially at this exciting moment of transition.”
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