New Army Reserve brigade commander crosses 'half the world' to lead

Photo By Jacob Boyer | Col. Glenn Goddard speaks after taking command of the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, Aug. 12, at a change of command ceremony at the Riversdale House in Riverdale, Md. Goddard, who lives in Honolulu, previously served as a civil affairs planning team chief with the 351st CACOM.  

RIVERDALE, MD, UNITED STATES

08.12.2012

Story by Staff Sgt. Jacob Boyer 

352nd Civil Affairs Command

RIVERDALE, Md. - A Honolulu civil engineer took charge of one of the Army Reserve’s civil affairs brigades, Aug. 12, at a change of command ceremony in Riverdale, Md.

Col. Glenn Goddard accepted the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade’s colors from Col. John P. Lawlor Jr. at the historic Riversdale House in front of representatives of the brigade’s four battalions.
Goddard spoke about the opportunities – many of them unexpected – that carried him to this point in his career. He said he wanted to ensure the brigade’s soldiers had access to the opportunities that would allow them to succeed.

“Could I have imagined back when I was a young lieutenant that I would command a brigade some day? I couldn’t even have imagined it. Battalion command was even beyond the realm of possibility at that time,” he said. “I want you to let me know what you want to do and we’ll see about making those opportunities happen.”

Brig. Gen. Ed Burley, commander of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command, oversaw the proceedings, and he called Goddard a man of his word.

“Back in January, I called Glenn Goddard to congratulate him on being selected for command of this brigade, and he said ‘I would go halfway around the world to command this brigade,’” he said. “Glenn is as good as his word. He lives in Hawaii, and he comes all the way here to command this fine outfit.”

Burley praised Lawlor for his actions as commander of the 354th CA Bde. Lawlor took command following the brigade’s last rotation in Afghanistan.

“As the commander of the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, John’s had the opportunity to rebuild the brigade after its long deployment to Afghanistan in 2010,” Burley said. “Like everything else in his career, he has excelled at it. He’s left the brigade much stronger than it was a year ago.”

Goddard also had praise for Lawlor and the brigade he was taking over.

“John, I curse you,” he said with a smile. “You’ve given me the finest brigade in USACAPOC. You could have given me something that was absolutely terrible and I could have been a hero making them number one. Now we’re already number one and I have to figure out how to improve from there.”

Lawlor, who is the public works director of Bloomfield, Conn., in his civilian career, said he was proud to have served with the brigade’s soldiers.

“I am proud to have served as the commander of this brigade,” he said. “The caliber of soldiers who fill our brigade’s ranks has always impressed me. Our [headquarters] and our battalions are capable, prepared and act as one unified force. This collaboration allows the brigade to meet its missions today and prepares it for success tomorrow.”

• Date Taken: 08.12.2012
• Date Posted: 08.12.2012 17:04
• Story ID: 93072
• Location: RIVERDALE, MD, US