164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Welcomes New Command Sergeant Major

Photo By Capt. Valeria Pete | Col. Grant C. Slayden, commander of the 164th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Brigade (BDE), Command Sgt. Maj. William N. Keefer, outgoing command sergeant major of the 164th ADA BDE, and Command Sgt. Maj. Theodore Morris, incoming command sergeant major of the 164th ADA BDE, render a salute during the National Anthem at a ceremony where Keefer relinquished responsibility to Morris. The ceremony was held at the brigade headquarters in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, March 6, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Valeria M. Pete)  

ORLANDO, FL, UNITED STATES

03.07.2016

Story by Sgt. Valeria Pete 

Florida National Guard Public Affairs Office

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The 164th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Brigade welcomed a familiar face yet new brigade command sergeant major, Sunday, March 6, 2016 during a Change of Responsibility ceremony at their headquarters in Orlando, Fla. Command Sgt. Maj. William N. Keefer, outgoing command sergeant major of the 164th ADA Brigade, relinquished responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Theodore Morris, incoming command sergeant major of the 164th ADA Brigade.

“My successor, Command Sgt. Maj. Morris is not new to our brigade, he brings a wealth of experience and enthusiastic energy that I am sure most of you have already witnessed. He is the type of Soldier who will jump right in the middle with our Soldiers to get any mission accomplished,” said Keefer.

A native of Illinois, Morris enlisted in 1985. After six years of active duty service, he joined the Florida Army National Guard (FLARNG) in 1991. Although he may be the 164th ADA Brigade’s new command Sgt. Maj., Morris has been with the brigade since he first joined the FLARNG. His previous duty assignments include Command Sgt. Maj., 3-265th ADA; 1st Sgt., 690th Military Police (MP) Company (CO); 1st Sgt., 806th MP CO.; 1st Sgt., 254th Transportation Battalion (BN), 1st Sgt., Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB), 2-265th ADA BN; and 1st Sgt., Bravo Battery, 2-265th ADA.

In addition to serving on every State Activation since his transfer to the FLARNG in 1991, he has deployed twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) – once in 2004 and again in 2010 as a first sergeant.
Amongst his various awards and decorations are the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster (OLC), Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze OLC, Army Commendation Medal with one OLC, Army Achievement Medal with one silver OLC and one bronze OLC, National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Air Assault Badge, German Schutzenschnur Gold Award, the Honorable Order of St. Barbara and many more.

Morris resides in Tamarac, Fla. with his wife of 29 years, Lore, and their son, Christopher.

• Date Taken: 03.07.2016
• Date Posted: 03.11.2016 09:43
• Story ID: 192037
• Location: ORLANDO, FL, US