48th Chemical Brigade holds change of command

Courtesy Photo | Col. Christopher Cox (center) passes the 48th Chemical Brigade unit colors to Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Williams on Fort Hood, Texas, July 9. (U.S. Army photo by Todd Pruden, Fort Hood Sentinel editor)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

07.17.2015

Story by Walter Ham  

20th CBRNE Command

FORT HOOD, Texas - The brigade that recently returned to Fort Hood after leading the Ebola mission in Liberia welcomed a new command team here July 9.

Col. Sven Erichsen relinquished command of the 48th Chemical Brigade to Col. Christopher Cox while Command Sgt. Maj. Kendall Owens II passed responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Williams.

During the ceremony, the brigade also officially uncased its colors from its first operational deployment.

The 48th Chemical Brigade headquarters deployed to Liberia in March to command Operation Unified Assistance, the U.S.-led effort to eradicate the Ebola virus in Liberia.

Part of the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland-based 20th CBRNE Command (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives), the brigade commands four chemical battalions, including the U.S. Army's only two technical escort battalions.

With units on 19 posts in 16 states, the 20th CBRNE Command is the U.S. Army's only multifunctional formation that combats chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats around the world.

Together with the Fort Campbell, Kentucky-based 52nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Group and Fort Carson, Colorado-based 71st EOD Group, the 48th Chemical Brigade is one of the three brigade-level units assigned to 20th CBRNE Command.

Brig. Gen. William E. King IV, the 20th CBRNE commanding general, presided over the ceremony. Command Sgt. Maj. Harold E. Dunn IV, the command's senior enlisted leader, also attended the ceremony.

Following his command tour, Erichsen is moving to Aberdeen Proving Ground to serve as the 20th CBRNE Command operations chief.

A native of Forest Grove, Oregon, Erichsen called the Liberia deployment the highlight of his time in command.

"Coordinating response and recovery from a disease outbreak was clearly a non-standard mission, but it certainly answered the question of what you do with a chemical brigade. Easy answer, anything you want to, as long as you have bright, capable people in it," said Erichsen.

Assuming command after attending the U.S. Army War College, Cox said he welcomed the opportunity to lead the Fort Hood-based brigade. The new commander also praised Erichsen for the many accomplishments that occurred during his two years in command.

"Your deployment to Liberia was a milestone for this organization. Your efforts helped end an unprecedented global crisis that threatened the fabric of society," said Cox.

"The preparations that you have made to support the homeland while honing your craft at the Combat Training Centers is simply amazing," said Cox. "I am confident that each of you stand ready to answer the next call."

• Date Taken: 07.17.2015
• Date Posted: 07.17.2015 18:18
• Story ID: 170401
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US
• Hometown: FOREST GROVE, OR, US