Story by Staff Sgt. Shanna Rice, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
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Col. Dennis R. Hawthorne relinquishes command of the 138th Field Artillery Brigade to Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell, Deputy Adjutant General as part of a change of command ceremony at the Sadowski Center in Fort Knox, Ky., Feb. 23, 2019. Leadership of the Brigade changed hands from Col. Hawthorne to Lt. Col. Ronnie S. Barnes, who previously served in the United States Property & Fiscal Office.(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Shanna Rice)
FORT KNOX, Ky. -- Col. Dennis R. Hawthorne relinquished his command of the 138th Field Artillery Brigade to Lt. Col. Ronnie S. Barnes during a change of command ceremony Feb. 23, 2019 in Fort Knox, Ky. Brig. Gen. Scott Campbell, The Deputy Adjutant General, along with family, friends and fellow Guardsmen filled the Sadowski Center to pay respects to this time-honored tradition.
To view all photos from this event, please click HERE.
Col. Hawthorne took command of the Brigade on Mar. 12, 2017 and saw the unit through numerous training events and exercises, to include a tour in Grafenwoehr, Germany in support of Operation Dynamic Front.
Relinquishing command, Col. Hawthorne gave thanks to his family for their tremendous support and followed with how proud he was to command such a brigade. "The culture of this brigade is strong. We have to continue working to keep it strong and be on the forefront of what we need to do for tomorrow."
Headquarters & Headquarters Battery, 138th Field Artillery Brigade Soldier of the Year, Pfc. Aramenta Gueye and Pfc. Jeffery Newton received the honor of presenting flowers to the wife of the outgoing commander, Mrs. Laura Hawthorne, and the wife of the incoming commander, Mrs. Sabrina Barnes.
After Lt. Col Ronnie S. Barnes assumed command of the Brigade, he extended his heartfelt thanks to all who attended, "I truly believe that there is no 'I' in team. It will take all of us to ensure our success and be ready to respond to our Nation and our State when called upon."