Fort Knox, Ky. (June 28, 2012) -- Col. Leona C. Knight assumed command of the 7th Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command here this morning during a change of command ceremony on historic Brooks Field.
The outgoing commander, Col. Michael J. Chinn, will take a new position in Afghanistan as a senior adviser on intelligence training for the Afghan military. Chinn took command of 7th Brigade in June 2010. During his tenure in command, the senior Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs in the brigade commissioned almost 3,000 new second lieutenants.
Knight is an ordnance officer who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the U.S. Military Academy. She has served in command and staff positions in the 2d Infantry Division, the 82d Infantry (Airborne), and the 1st Cavalry Division. She has also been a Recruiting company commander. Before coming to command 7th Brigade, she served as deputy operations and training officer in the 8th Theater Sustainment Command and as Commander of the 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, in Hawaii. She also holds advanced degrees from Central Michigan University, the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies, and the U.S. Naval War College.
Cadet Command's 7th Brigade is responsible for almost 4,000 Senior Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets in 38 host colleges and universities, and more than 35,000 Army Junior ROTC cadets in 219 schools, in the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.
The U.S. Army Cadet Command commissions officers to meet the Army's leadership requirements at 273 host universities and 1,066 satellite programs at other colleges across the nation. It also provides a citizenship program through 1,731 high school programs that motivate young people to be strong leaders and better citizens. Commanded by Maj. Gen. Jefforey A. Smith, USACC is located at Fort Knox, Ky.
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