Photo By Capt. Fernando Ochoa | Lt. Col. Michael A. Roark, a Roseburg, Oregon native, assumed command of the 469th...... read more read more
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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Lt. Col. Michael A. Roark, a Roseburg, Oregon native, assumed command of the 469th Combat Sustainment Support Command June 26, in a change of command ceremony at the Moffett Naval Air Station in Mountain View, Calif., where the 63rd Regional Support Command is located.
Col. Toni A. Glover, 650th Regional Support Group commanding officer, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, was present to transfer the unit colors to Roark from Col. Chandra M. Roberts, who has led the unit for almost two years and who had been promoted to colonel earlier that day.
Roark graduated from Oregon State University, where he earned two bachelor of science degrees in both Management Science and Computer Science. He was commissioned through the ROTC program as an Ordnance second lieutenant.
There were clear skies at the Mountain View U.S. Army Reserve Center and the Soldiers and guests in attendance enjoyed a pleasant event.
“Col. Roberts has done an excellent job in ensuring that every Soldier is superbly trained, mentally and physically fit, and prepared to meet the demands of a deployment,” said Glover. “The success of the 469th CSSB is due to her experienced leadership, high standards and because she pushes her staff hard to complete their tasks.”
The ceremony began with the traditional ceremonial pageantry. The standing units were summoned to order arms. The audience stood for the presentation of the colors and honors, and the units were brought to present arms, then to parade rest. These displays of uniformity were executed with discipline and precision.
In the center of the parade field, the formal transfer of authority and responsibility for the unit took place. Command Sgt. Maj. Denise Dial, who is the keeper of the colors, passed the colors to Roberts, the outgoing commander. She then passed the colors to Glover, the representative of the higher command, symbolizing the relinquishment of her command.
Glover then delivered the colors to Roark, the new commander. Finally, the new commander passed it back to the command sergeant major, who is charged with protecting it. At the end of the ceremony, the commander of the higher command ordered the new battalion commander to take charge of his battalion.
Roberts thanked her Soldiers and honored guests saying, “I am super proud of what this battalion has done and the leaders I seen developed.” She pointed out that the Aftershock team has doubled in size over the past 20 months from 269 to currently 544 members adding, “It’s been a sincere privilege to command this unit and see how my staff took my intent and vision and executed training and readiness.”
Honored guests included Brig. Gen. David Elwell, 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command commanding general, Col. Amy Taitano, former 650th RSG commander, and families and friends.
Roark was enthusiastic and energized as he accepted the 469th CSSB command. His remarks flexed today’s Army saying, “As anyone who has been in the Army for more than a day knows the only thing that remains constant in the Army is change,” and he borrowed a quote from Winston Churchill saying, “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”
The ceremony concluded with a cake and cerebration with Roark’s wife and two sons and extended family.
The 469th CSSB is a modular, corps-level support organization responsible for providing multifunctional logistics support to maneuver, fires and effects organizations as well as assistance to other support organizations. This modern high-tech unit is capable of deploying independently and providing mission command for assigned and attached sustainment units in order to provide full-spectrum sustainment support as required.
In 2011, the 650th RSG was realigned under the 311th ESC and took control of three battalions: the 314th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 469th CSSB and the 483rd Transportation Battalion. Its area of operation spans over three states, including California, Nevada and Arizona.
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.07.2016 14:31 |
| Story ID: | 203327 |
| Location: | MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 247 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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