LAVINIA, Tenn. – Lt. Col. J. Kaye Steed, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District civil engineering technician in the Navigation Branch, relieved Lt. Col. Barry L. Collins in a change of command ceremony as the commander of the Tennessee U.S. Army National Guard 168th Military Police Battalion on June 14, 2013, at the a Tennessee National Guard’s Volunteer Training Site-Milan, in Lavinia, Tenn.
Steed a native of Lebanon, Tenn., works in the Nashville District as a civil engineering technician in the Navigation Branch.
Her major responsibilities include production of the river navigation charts of the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, and the as-built record drawings of the rivers’ navigation locks.
Col. Brett London, commander of the 194th Engineer Brigade, officiated the change of command ceremony, passed the command colors and welcomed Steed to her new post as Military Police Battalion commander.
“Thank you for being here today and this is a great honor to have been entrusted with such an awesome responsibility on my shoulders,” Steed said during the ceremony.
She thanked Maj. Gen Robert Harris, assistant adjutant general-Army for the Tennessee National Guard and London for their support.
London passed the battalion colors, welcomed Steed and commended Collins, the outgoing commander, for his service, leadership and dedication to troops and recent tours to Iraq during his tour.
Steed earned her commission through the Officer Candidate School program, Tennessee army National Guard in 1990. She has served in engineer leadership positions from platoon leader to company commander.
Her military experience includes a variety of engineer and staff assignments.
Steed earned an Associates of Architectural Engineering degree from Nashville State Technical Institute and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Illinois University with a concentration of geography.
Steed is a graduate of Engineer Officer Basic Course, Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course, Ordnance Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Equal Opportunity Advisor Course, and Command and General Staff College.
Her awards and decorations include: three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, six Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, two National Defense Service Medals Armed Forces Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbons, Air Force Training Ribbon, two Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbons, three Armed Forces Reserve Medals with M device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star.