58th EMIB Welcomes New Commander

Photo By Sgt. Arcadia Hammack | U.S. Army Col. Julie Minde, outgoing commander of the Maryland Army National Guard’s 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade, cuts the cake as U.S. Army Col. B. Clay Jackson, incoming commander of the 58th EMIB stands by, at a reception held after the 58th EMIB change of command ceremony in Towson, Maryland, June 24, 2021. The change of command ceremony is a tradition that transfers authority and responsibility to the new commander or command team. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Arcadia Hammack)  

TOWSON, MD, UNITED STATES

06.24.2021

Story by Maj. Brendan Cassidy and Sgt. Arcadia Hammack

58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade

TOWSON, Md. – Members of the Maryland National Guard (MDNG), friends and family gathered at the Ruhl Armory in Towson to attend a change of command ceremony that formalized the transition of authority in the 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade (EMIB) on June 24th, 2021.

The ceremony signified the transition of one commander to another through the passing of the brigade colors representing the organization.
The outgoing commander, Col. Julie M. Minde, received the colors from the Brigade’s Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick Metzger. Minde then passed the colors to Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, commander of the Maryland Army National Guard, who then passed them to the new commander, Col. B. Clay Jackson.

“Col. Minde came at a pivotal time to the Maryland Army National Guard. Her expertise in military intelligence led to the first National Guard unit to perform ISR missions in theater, work with the highest level of governments, while seemingly ensuring ongoing IO battalion missions to the Horn of Africa.” said Birckhead.

Following the relinquishment of her command, Minde retires after 31 years of distinguished service. She led the brigade during its historic deployment to Afghanistan from May 2020 until February 2021, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Task Force 291 was formed in Maryland of remaining units from the brigade, immediately supporting domestic operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“From the summer of 2017, I had three themes for the group: honor, gratitude, and commitment…it’s been the deepest honor of my years in the Guard to have traveled the last few with you.” Minde said, reflecting on her time as brigade commander.

Minde served four years as 58th EMIB commander. Her successor, Jackson, most recently served with the Unified National Guard Bureau (NGB) Operational Plans Team, as the Messaging, Branding and Culture lead officer, in a detailed assignment from his position as the NGB Deputy J2 (Intelligence Directorate).

The 58th EMIB was first activated on Aug. 1st, 2015, largely from personnel from the 58th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BfSB). The unit can trace its lineage back to 1917, when it was formed as one of two infantry brigades under the 29th Infantry Division. The brigade is composed of seven composite units throughout Central Maryland.

• Date Taken: 06.24.2021
• Date Posted: 06.28.2021 15:42
• Story ID: 399912
• Location: TOWSON, MD, US