FORT DUPONT, Del. - The radiance of the early morning sun arrived just as 1st. Lt. Daniel A. DeFlaviis accepted command of the 153rd Military Police Company during a change of command ceremony here Feb. 8.
The passing of the 153rd's guidon -- a green and yellow swallow tailed flag -- was led by the MP unit's battalion commander, Lt. Col. Robert A. Hyland. The company’s ranking noncommissioned officer, 1st Sgt. Michael D. Fields - who is by tradition, responsible for the safeguard, care, and protection of the unit colors – also participated in the symbolic ceremony.
Once the proceedings were finished, DeFlaviis officially became the sixth commanding officer to lead the Delaware MPs following the unit’s 1996 inception.
Most recently, DeFlaviis served as the platoon leader for 3rd Platoon during their overseas tour in Iraq's Babil province. The platoon conducted MP operations from the remotely located Forward Operating Base Kalsu from Sept. 2007 through May 2008.
Yawn, who was awarded an Army Commendation Medal during the ceremony, will expand his responsibilities as executive officer for the DEARNG’s 2nd Battalion, 72nd Troop Command. During the 153rd's deployment, Yawn served as both company commander, and team chief of a police transition team. Yawn's PTT unit was responsible for training and advising Iraqi police at the Baghdad Criminal Investigation Division HQ.
The 153rd MP Company is subordinate to the 72nd Troop Command, which is part of the Delaware Army National Guard. The units home station is on historic Fort DuPont, located near Delaware City, Del.