Support from New York, Iron Eagles Welcome New Deputy Commanding Officer

Photo By Maj. Roxana Thompson | Iron Eagles welcome new DCO, Lt. Col. Kevin Ferreira and his support during Operation Freedom's Sentinel  

AFGHANISTAN

03.06.2019

Story by Sgt. Ashton Hofmeister 

1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade

1st Armored Division, Combat Aviation Brigade welcomed Lt. Col. Kevin Ferreira as the Deputy Commanding Officer for the duration of their deployment in Afghanistan.

Ferreira, who is from Western New York, initially commissioned in 1994 as a Field Artillery officer with 1-501 PIR prior to joining the Alaska National Guard and has years of experience as a leader and a pilot, having attended flight school in 1997 and becoming qualified on the UH-60, Blackhawk Helicopter.

While serving in the Alaska National Guard, in 1999, he took command of Search and Rescue Operations. In 2001, he transitioned to become a part of the New York National Guard, where he continues to serve today.

Ferreira is also a current UH-60L instructor pilot with over 3,200 accident free flight hours. His previous deployments include Bosnia, Iraq and Kuwait where he held command positions from the company level up to battalion.

As the DCO, Ferreira looks forward to integrating with each aviation task force in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Resolute Support as well as working with soldiers to accomplish mission success, he said.

He feels what is most important in his role is to support the command team's messages and to assist each aviation task force. He plans to facilitate resources to each task force so that they remain successful throughout the entirety of the CAB's deployment.

Ferreira would also like the Soldiers and their families to know that he is aware that they have put in a lot of time and training and are well prepared for this mission. He knows the families will remain Iron Strong.

“We will have a successful rotation,” he said. “We will see them in the Fall.”

The Iron Eagles are currently deployed throughout the Combined Joint Operations Area of Afghanistan providing mission critical aviation support to our coalition and NATO partners.

• Date Taken: 03.06.2019
• Date Posted: 03.07.2019 07:12
• Story ID: 313278
• Location: AF