Photo By Sgt. Nolan Brewer | U.S. Army Maj. Ashley Bain, outgoing commander of the 22nd Mobile Public Affairs...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. — After two years of ambitious leadership, Maj. Ashley Bain, commander of the 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (MPAD), relinquished command to Maj. Guillermo Muñiz during a formal change of command ceremony, at the 82nd Airborne Hall of Heroes Auditorium, Fort Bragg, July 25, 2025.
Bain assumed command on July 1, 2023, leading the detachment through a transformative period marked by personal challenges and professional growth. After her experience in her Military Intelligence field, she transitioned to public affairs through the Army’s Voluntary Transfer Incentive Program- a move she said gave her new purpose in uniform.
“PAO gave me a reason to stay in the Army,” Bain said. “We’re the truth-tellers. Our role is to keep the public informed with accurate and transparent information. That responsibility has given me purpose in ways I never expected.”
Under Bain’s leadership, the 22nd MPAD fostered a culture of trust, empowerment and empathy. She emphasized transparency, encouraged junior soldiers to share their voices, and built a team dynamic that prioritized communication and emotional resilience. Her mother had passed away on July 15, of 2023.
“My team taught me that I don’t have to be strong all the time,” said Bain, reflecting on her mother’s passing. “Even when I couldn’t be fully present, they carried the mission forward. That trust and support are something I’ll never forget.”
Throughout her career, Bain navigated both personal adversity and the professional demands of leadership, including a deployment that tested her adaptability as a mother. She remained committed to her soldiers’ well-being, often citing their growth as the most rewarding part of her command.
“Leading the 22nd wasn’t what I initially wanted, but it was exactly what I needed,” she said. “They helped me become the kind of leader I was meant to be.”
The change of command ceremony marked not only a change in leadership, but also the continuation of the detachment's mission to tell the Army’s story. Maj. Muñiz, a new public affairs officer, will bring his own vision and leadership style to the unit.
Although she will no longer serve as commander, Bain isn’t going far. She will remain on post in a new role, and looks forward to staying connected with the unit she calls “the favorite job I’ve ever had.”
“I’m excited for what’s ahead,” Bain said. “But I’ll always be rooting for the 22nd. This isn’t goodbye-it’s just a new chapter.”
| Date Taken: | 07.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2025 11:28 |
| Story ID: | 544232 |
| Location: | FAYETTEVILLE , NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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