A Family of Leaders

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Sinthia Rosario | Capt. Richard Neal, commander of the 493rd Petroleum Support Company, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade (Front Left) and Capt. Emma Neal, commander of the 355th Movement Control Team, 39th Transportation Battalion (MC), 16th Special Troops Battalion, 16th Sust. Bde. (Front Right), stand together after both assumed command of their respective unit in back to back Change of Command ceremonies, at Tower Barracks, Grafenwoehr, Germany, Nov. 21, 2019. Both Richard and Emma are a married couple within the Knights Brigade. (Courtesy Photo)  

GRAFENWOEHR, GERMANY

11.21.2019

Courtesy Story

16th Sustainment Brigade

For Captain’s Richard Neal and Emma Neal, leadership is a family trademark as the married officers assume company command on the same day at Tower Barracks, Grafenwoehr, Germany, Nov. 21, 2019. In back to back ceremonies, two companies from the 16th Sustainment Brigade changed leadership.

In those ceremonies, Emma and Richard, took the reins of their respective companies.

Emma, first assumed command of the 355th Movement Control Team, 39th Transportation Battalion (MC) and one hour later, Emma's husband, Richard, assumed command of the 493rd Petroleum Support Company, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.

The ceremonies, in which the husband and wife took command in the Knight's Brigade on the same date, were not only a great day for the 16th Sustainment Brigade, but also a great opportunity for family members to travel and witness both family members assume command of their respective companies.

Family members of both officers made the long journey, flying from as far away as Alaska and North Carolina to attend the ceremonies.

“We were very fortunate for this incredible opportunity to take command on the same day in the 16th Sustainment Brigade and we were thrilled to have our families share in this milestone with us,” said Emma.

While it is unknown how many times a married couple has taken command of separate companies within the same brigade on the same day, rest assured that it does not happen often and it offers a unique opportunity for both officers to share professional and personal thoughts and ideas on their command throughout their tenures.

• Date Taken: 11.21.2019
• Date Posted: 11.25.2019 04:41
• Story ID: 353242
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, DE
• Hometown: BAUMHOLDER, RP, DE
• Hometown: EAGLE RIVER, AK, US
• Hometown: SANFORD, NC, US