Photo By Maj. Benjamin Gruver | Maj. Michael Wallace and wife, Teresa, receive well wishes for his future endeavors...... read more read more
TOPEKA, Kan. -- New changes awaited the 105th Mobile Public Affairs detachment as they gained a new commander along with many new soldiers.
In a change of command ceremony, Dec. 3, 2011, Maj. Michael Wallace passed the unit guidon, signifying change of command authority of the 105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment to the new commander, Capt. D. Matt Keane, at the Nickell Armory in Topeka, Kan. Lt. Col. Tom Barnett, commander of Joint Forces Headquarters, Table of Distribution and Allowances Battalion, was the senior reviewing officer of the ceremony.
The custom of a change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition that extends back to the time of the Roman legions. The ceremony calls attention to the continuing leadership and unit identity, despite changes in individual authority and symbolizes the transfer of command responsibility from one individual to another. This transfer is formally represented by passing the unit guidon, from the outgoing commander to the next senior commander to the new commander.
The 105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment is a unit assigned under the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Joint Forces Headquarters, in Topeka.
"I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead the great soldiers of the 105th MPAD, and I look forward to executing this Detachment’s important mission in support of the Kansas Army National Guard," said Keane.
"I am proud of the soldiers in the unit, who are personally invested in the unit and helped bring the unit into the multiple award-winning media outlet for the Kansas Army National Guard," said Wallace.
Capt. D. Matt Keane
Capt. D. Matt Keane graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point as a member of 2002’s Bicentennial Class and commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery Officer. Upon graduating from USMA, he attended and was named Honor Graduate for the Air Defense Officer Basic Course at Fort Bliss, Texas.
In 2003, Keane reported to Battery B, 1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He served as an Avenger/Stinger platoon leader, deploying to Kirkuk, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Keane spent eight months leading convoys and patrols and then left his platoon to serve as the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Iraqi Security Forces Officer.
In 2005 he was assigned as the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade’s Air Defense Airspace Management Cell Officer.
In 2006, Keane deployed to Tikrit, Iraq, with the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, supporting OIF 06-08. He served as the Brigade Training, Force Protection and Plans Officer until April 2007.
Keane took command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade in May 2007 and redeployed the company from Iraq to Wheeler Army Airfield in October 2007. Upon leaving command in 2008, he attended the Air Defense Captain’s Career Course at Fort Bliss and received the course’s top two honors for leadership and proficiency in tactics, while also completing his master’s degree at the University of Texas at El Paso. Keane then became the assistant professor of Military Science at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
Keane left active duty in December 2010 and transferred directly into the Kansas Army National Guard. Shortly after 10 months of service with the Judge Advocate General’s office, Keane has accepted command of the 105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.
Keane’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Combat Action Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Army Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge. Keane is currently pursuing his law degree at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan.
He is married to the former Jessica Weible of Ames, Iowa, and the couple has two young sons, Billy and Johnny.
Maj. Michael L. Wallace
Maj. Michael L. Wallace is currently attending Command and General Staff School in Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He has been the commander of the 105th MPAD since 2007, when he returned from a one year Southwest Asia deployment as the public affairs officer for the 377th Theater Support and the 635th Regional Support Commands.
Wallace joined military service in 1977 with the Air Force. In 1988, he changed to the Kansas National Guard, graduating from the Officer Candidate School, Salina, Kan., in 1990 as part of class 34.
During his career, he has commanded the Service Battery, 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery, as well as serving as the intelligence officer and counter-fire officer. He was an aerial observer and intelligence specialist for the 35th Division Artillery; ammo officer for the 1st Battalion, 127th Field Artillery; weapons storage inspector and joint military affairs executive officer in Bosnia, as well as other fulfilling assignments at home and abroad.
Wallace’s awards and decorations include the Combat Action Badge, the Schutzenschnuer (from Germany), the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon with one star, Global War on Terrorism, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary, Outstanding Volunteer Medal, Air Force Longevity Medal, Air Force Professional Military Education Medal, Kansas Meritorious Service Medal, Kansas Commendation Medal, Virginia Commendation Medal, NATO Article 5 and Non-Article 5 medals, the Pecs Medal and many other domestic and foreign awards.
Wallace is an award-winning journalist (Kansas Press Association) for his work as an editor for the Augusta Daily Gazette, a Keith L. Ware winner from the National Guard Bureau and a former Billie E. Fuqua award winner.
He started Kansas' largest county newspaper, the Butler County Chronicle, where he was publisher and chief editor. In his civilian life, Wallace is a novelist and a council member for the city of Augusta.
He has been married to his wife, Teresa, for 32 years and they have three children, Lenora, Katina and Heath. They reside in Augusta, Kan.
| Date Taken: | 12.03.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.03.2012 13:34 |
| Story ID: | 81997 |
| Location: | TOPEKA, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 278 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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