27th Infantry Brigade Gets New Top Non-Commissioned Officer during Friday, Feb. 19 ceremony

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Command Sgt. Major Edwin L. Garris

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, NEW YORK (02/18/2021) (readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Edwin L. Garris, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and a Buffalo native, will take over as the top noncommissioned officer in the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team on Friday afternoon, February 19.

Garris will assume the role from Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony McLean during a Change of Responsibility ceremony at the brigade's Syracuse headquarters. The command sergeant major of an Army unit is the commander's chief advisor on issues involving Soldiers.

Members of the press are invited to attend.

WHO: Command Sgt. Major Edwin L. Garris, incoming command sergeant major; Command Sgt. Major Anthony McLean, and Colonel Robert Charlesworth, commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

WHAT: A ceremony during which the Brigade's colors (flag) will be passed from McLean to Garris. The tradition signifies the new responsibility of the senior NCO in the command for good order and discipline among its more than 3,000 troops spread across New York and Massachusetts.

McLean, an Iraq war veteran and retired New York City police detective, has been the brigade's Command Sgt. Maj. since 2018. He is retiring after more than 39 years of military service.

WHEN: 12:30 p.m. on Friday, February 19, 2021.

WHERE: Thompson Road Armory, Syracuse. Enter via Hancock Field Air National Guard Base main gate on East Molloy Road (between Thompson and Moore Roads). Media asked to arrive no later than 12:30 for escort and setup.

Coverage opportunities:

Still and video images of the ceremony. There will be an opportunity to interview both Garris and McLean.

Members of the press must call Capt. Avery Schneider at 917-443-1864 for access to this secure military facility. Press must have identification and wearing of face masks will be required.

BACKGROUND

Command Sgt. Major Edwin L. Garris

In civilian life Garris is a District Captain with the Buffalo Police Department, and brings 32 years of military service to the senior NCO role. He served in the active duty Army in Germany, Georgia, and Texas from 1983 to 1994. Garris joined the Army National Guard in 1999 and has held senior roles at the battalion, brigade, and division level, as well as in the FEMA Region II Homeland Response Force.

His deployments include tours in Saudi Arabia in 1990, Iraq in 2004, Afghanistan in 2007, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 2013, and Kuwait in 2019.

Garris' military education includes the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Infantryman's Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Air Defense Artillery transitional training, Primary Leadership Development Course, Field Artillery Advanced Individual Training course, and Army basic training.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Unit Citation, Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two M Devices, four Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, three Army Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), and the Combat Action Badge.