Photo By Brian Murphy | Official photo of outgoing commander Colonel Justin R. Pabis... read more read more
BOSTON— Col. Charles W. Comfort Jr. assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District from Col. Justin R. Pabis during a ceremony at historic Faneuil Hall on July 24, 2026.
Brig. Gen. Jesse T. Curry, commander and division engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, presided over the ceremony.
“From time immemorial, armies throughout the world have conducted ceremonies to honor their heroes, commemorate victory over an enemy, celebrate special occasions or pay homage to their fallen comrades,” said Lt. Col. David MacPhail, deputy commander and host for the event. “These ceremonies add color and pageantry to military life.”
The custom of acknowledging a change of command is a formal ceremony dating back to Roman times, though its origin is lost in prehistory. The ceremony emphasizes the continuity of leadership and unit identity despite changes in individual authority. It also symbolizes the transfer of command responsibility, physically represented by passing the command flag—the tangible symbol of the unit—from the outgoing commander to the senior commander, and then to the incoming commander.
The change of command is a brief, traditional event rich with symbolism. The central element of the ceremony is the passing of the unit’s flag, or colors.
“The colors, a scarlet flag with a white castle in the center, represent 251 years of service to the Army and the nation,” MacPhail said. “The act of passing the colors from Colonel Pabis to Colonel Comfort represents the transfer of responsibility.”
Historically, commanders ensured their most trusted officers carried the unit’s flag. In traditional military units, this charge falls to color sergeants or sergeants major. Because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is primarily composed of Army civilians, commanders instead entrust their senior civilian advisor with this responsibility. Serving as the deputy district engineer for the ceremony, Mark Anderson represented the district’s civilian members, personifying the military-civilian partnership central to the organization.
Anderson began the ceremony by taking the USACE flag and presenting it to Pabis, who assumed command of the New England District three years ago. Pabis then passed the colors to Curry, symbolizing the relinquishment of his command and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to lead the district's soldiers and civilians. Curry then passed the colors to Comfort, entrusting him with the command. Comfort returned the colors to Anderson, who placed them back in the stand on behalf of the New England District team.
During his tenure as district engineer since July 28, 2023, Pabis managed Corps responsibilities across the six-state New England region, overseeing civil works as well as engineering, construction and real estate services for the Army, Air Force and other Department of Defense agencies.
Under his leadership, the district achieved several milestones over the past three years, including the successful integration of the West Point mission into its portfolio and the seamless implementation of nationwide permits by the regulatory team. The district also awarded the Saco and Camp Ellis Section 111 contract to begin construction, and completed and delivered the S2PRINT military construction project at Natick, Massachusetts, supporting critical research requirements for soldiers. Annually, the district managed a program valued at more than $400 million.
“As I reflect on my time commanding the New England District, I am incredibly proud of the work we have accomplished together,” Pabis said. “But this list of highlights doesn't even scratch the surface of the amazing things you do here every single day.”
Following the change of command, Pabis retired from the military. A retirement ceremony was held upstairs in the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company Museum at Faneuil Hall. During the event, Pabis was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Silver de Fleury Medal. He also received a proclamation from Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and a letter of appreciation from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.
In his remarks, Comfort expressed enthusiasm for his new command and the future accomplishments of the New England District team.
“The New England District has long held a well-earned reputation as one of the premier districts within USACE,” Comfort said. “My intent is not only to uphold that standard of excellence but to build upon it. I am eager to get to work. While the legacy of this district is historic, our most important work lies ahead. It is my hope that during my tenure, we will write our own chapter of history—delivering vital projects that will protect, strengthen and benefit the people of New England and our great nation.”
| Date Taken: | 07.23.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 07.24.2026 11:51 |
| Story ID: | 570629 |
| Location: | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 24 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Comfort Assumes Command of USACE New England District at Historic Faneuil Hall, by AnnMarie Harvie, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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