Army Guard command headquartered at Camp Smith gets new commander on Saturday, October 19

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, CORTLANDT MANOR,NEW YORK (10/18/2024) (readMedia)-- Brigadier General Isabel Rivera Smith, a veteran of the Iraq War, will take command of the New York Army National Guard's 53rd Troop Command during a Saturday, Sept. 19 ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site in Cortlandt Manor.

She is replacing Brigadier General Jack James, who is assuming commander of the 42nd Infantry Division, which is headquartered in Troy. James will be formally promoted to the two-star Major General rank as part of the ceremony. James is assuming command of the 42nd Infantry Division.

Members of the press are invited to cover the ceremony.

WHO: Brig. Gen. Isabel Rivera Smith, the incoming commander, Major Gen. Jack James, the outgoing commander, Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York and the presiding officer, and the men and women of the 53rd Troop Command.

WHAT: A formal change of command in which the colors, or flag, of the 53rd Troop Command will be transferred to Smith, from James, by Major General Shields, signifying the change of responsibility and authority for the unit and its Soldier.

Traditionally the colors represented the commanders place on the battlefield, and the ceremony allowed the soldiers to see who they would follow in combat.

The 53rd Troop Command, which is headquartered at Camp Smith, is one of the New York Army National Guard's two major commands. Over 4,600 National Guard Soldiers serve in its units located across the state.

WHEN: 11 a.m., Saturday, October 19, 2024.

WHERE: Camp Smith Training Site, Bear Mountain Bridge Road, Cortlandt Manor

COVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES:

Members of the press can capture still and video imagery of the ceremony and troops in formations. Reporters can interview both Smith and James.

Members of the press must contact Capt. Stephanie Fernandez at 347-326-4296 for access to this secure military facility.

BACKGROUND:

Brigadier General Isabel Rivera Smith

Brigadier General Isabel Rivera Smith enlisted in the Active Army in 1985 and served in anti-aircraft artillery units. She joined the North Carolina Army National Guard in 1988 and then transferred to the New York Army National Guard in 1989. In 1995 she earned her commission through Officer Candidate School.

She currently serves as the Director of Joint Staff in a full-time capacity for the New York National Guard. In this role she is responsible for support to civil authorities' missions and the New York National Guard State Partnership Program.

She also served as the deputy commanding general for the Combined Arms Support Command's Sustainment Center of Excellence.

Prior to serving at the Director of Joint Staff at New York National Guard Headquarters, she was the chief of staff for the 53rd Troop Command, among many other staff functions.

Smith as served as the commander of the 53rd Troop Command's Headquarters Detachment, as well as the 369th Special Troops Battalion. While deployed to Iraq in 2010-2011, she was the Deputy Team Chief at Iraq National Police Headquarters.

She as served in a number of staff functions focused on logistics and personnel.

She is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, and the National Security Management Course at the University of Syracuse.

Her awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Smith is also the recipient of the 2017 Latina Style Military Service Award.

Smith was born and raised in Lorain, Ohio where she graduated from Admiral King High School.

She holds a bachelor's degree in human services from Mount St. Mary's College, a master's degree in education in Counseling and Development from Long Island University, and a master's degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.

Smith and her husband Peter have six daughters, as well as one son: Jamarr. They also have nine grandchildren.

Major General Jack James

Major General Jack James is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point who was commissioned in 1992. He is an Aviation officer who has led Soldiers at the platoon, troop, battalion, brigade and general officer levels.

He has served as an attack helicopter troop commander, battalion operations officer, battalion executive officer, brigade operations officer, and battalion commander. He led the 42d Combat Aviation Brigade from 2014 to 2019 and served as the commander of the 53rd Troop Command, and then the deputy commander of the 42nd Infantry Division, before returning to the 53rd Troop Command once again.

He has deployed several times during his military career. James has deployed on multiple occasions.

In addition to his overseas service, James has participated in responses to numerous domestic emergencies including Hurricane Katrina, and Superstorm Sandy.

James is a traditional National Guard Soldier who has balanced civilian and military careers for over twenty years. In his civilian career, James serves as a Vice President at New York Life Insurance Company.

James holds and Master of Business Administration from New York University. He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College, as well as the Air War College.

James is a Master Army Aviator and is rated in the AH-64, AH-1, UH-60, UH-1 and fixed wing aircraft.