FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The 101st Airborne Division Artillery will introduce its newest commander in a ceremony Thursday.
A change of command is a time-honored tradition that represents a symbolic passing of responsibility, authority and accountability of command from one leader to another. The acting commander, Lt. Col. Felix Rodriguez, will transfer command to Col. Bryan Babich.
Babich is a 21-year Army officer, who has led artillery units at all levels to include a deployment to Operation Inherent Resolve. Most recently, he served as the 101st Abn. Div. rear chief of staff.
The ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. The 101st Abn. Div. commanding general, Maj. Gen. Andrew Poppas will preside over the ceremony at the Sgt. Leslie H. Sabo Jr. Physical Fitness Center.
The 101st Abn. Div. Artillery headquarters recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan, where they assisted the 101st Abn. Div. headquarters with NATO’s train, advise and assist mission and U.S. counterterrorism operations nationwide. Under the leadership of Col. Frank Stanco, they were responsible for all surface to surface fires in the area of operations, delivering over 1000 lethal strikes against Taliban and ISIS targets. Stanco relinquished command in a Dec. 20, 2018 ceremony.