Photo By Sgt. Hubert Delany | Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Coggin, commanding general of U.S. Army Civil Affairs and...... read more read more
FORT WADSWORTH, N.Y. – During the early months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Timothy Brennan virtually assumed command of the 353d Civil Affairs Command, unbeknownst that he would spend his entire command in a pandemic.
And even though the world evolved with the rapid changes of a virtual environment. The Army Reserve maintained operational readiness within its globally-aligned mission.
“I thought taking command at the beginning of the pandemic was going to be a constant struggle, but it was a blessing in disguise,” said Brennan, the outgoing commanding general of the 353rd CACOM. “Leading during the pandemic has taught me so much about communication, the tools that we have, and how to use indirect leadership to make sure we are still able to achieve the goals set for us.”
Brennan relinquished the 353d CACOM commander position to Brig. Gen. Dean Thompson during a ceremony held at Fort Hamilton, NY, March 18, 2022.
“For the first time in my 29-year career, I’m excited to hand a command off to one of my very good friends of 16 years,” said Brennan. “The machine is just perfect right now, and it’s only going to get better with Dean at the helm.”
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey C. Coggin, commanding general of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), thanked Brennan for his superb leadership and dedication to the CACOM and the USACAPOC (Airborne), the 353d CACOM’s higher headquarters.
“It was not without great challenges and adversity, but through your sound leadership and hands-on management, the Soldiers of the 353d prevailed and always excelled in providing first class support to the U.S., U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command,” said Coggin.
The incoming commander is no stranger to the 353d CACOM or to the European theater mission. Thompson commanded the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, a direct reporting unit to the 353d CACOM, and as the Multinational Brigade G-5 Civil‐Military Cooperation for NATO Exercise Cooperative Longbow.
“With 36 years in the military service, you don’t do it alone,” said Thompson. “What’s really cool to see is this group here who helped him (Brennan) along the way.”
“It provides confidence to me to know that I have the support of the men and women of the 353, as well as with the community’s and my family’s support,” said Thompson ”I can’t help but be successful.”
Brennan is moving on to his next assignment as the Deputy Operations Director of AFRICOM, in Stuttgart Germany, and said that he has confidence that the unit is being left in great hands with Thompson despite the uncertainty within the European theater.
“I thought the pandemic was going to be the defining event of the next generation,” said Brennan. “However, 3.5 weeks ago, [referencing the Ukraine conflict] things got a bit wilder and turned upside-down. The geopolitical environment is different and the landscape is continuing to change.”
| Date Taken: | 03.19.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2022 18:50 |
| Story ID: | 416803 |
| Location: | STATEN ISLAND, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 287 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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