Goshen resident takes command of specialized NY Army Guard unit Friday, April 22, at Camp Smith Training Site

Related Media

Lt. Col. Gurpeet Singh

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, CORTLANDT MANOR, , NY (04/21/2022) (readMedia)-- Lt. Col. Gurpreet Singh, a Goshen resident and a New York City police detective in civilian life, will take command of the New York Army National Guard's 53rd Digital Liaison Detachment during a formal change-of-command ceremony at the Camp Smith Training Site in Cortlandt Manor on Friday, Apr. 22.

The detachment is a specialized unit whose members are trained to integrate into high-level army headquarters and coordinate with units from other nations or services. Singh will replace Col. Chris A. Guilmette, a resident of Vorheesville near Albany, as the commander .

Members of the press are invited to cover the ceremony.

WHO: Lt. Col. Gurpreet Singh, the incoming commander; Col. Chris A. Guilmette, the outgoing commander; Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York and leaders of the 53rd Troop Command from around the state.

WHAT: A traditional change-of-command ceremony in which the colors, or flag, of the 53rd Digital Liaison Detachment will be transferred from the outgoing commander to the incoming commander. Traditionally the unit colors indicate the commander's location on the battlefield. The traditional military ceremony allows the Soldiers to see who they will follow in battle.

WHEN: 11 a.m. on Friday, April 22, 2022.

WHERE: Camp Smith Training Site, Cortlandt Manor. Enter via main gate on Bear Mountain Road. Media are asked to arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. for escort and setup.

Coverage opportunities:

Still and video images of the ceremony. There will be an opportunity to interview both Bookless and Guilmette, as well as Major General Ray Shields, who is also the commander of the New York Army National Guard as well as Adjutant General of the New York National Guard.

Members of the press must call Staff Sgt. Jonathan Pietrantoni at 516-655-1336 for access to this secure military facility. Press must have identification and wearing of face masks will be required.

BACKGROUND:

Lt. Col. Gurpreet Singh

Singh, a Goshen, N.Y., resident, has served as an 42d Infantry Division Chief of Protection and the Deputy Commander of the FEMA Region II Homeland Response Force. Other position includes leadership and senior staff positions in the 42d Infantry Division, including company commander, battalion operations officer, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear officer.

Singh has deployed to Afghanistan and Kuwait and has been part of the New York National Guard response to the World Trade Center attack of Sept, 11, 2001 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Singh joined the Army National Guard in 1998. He earned his commission in 2003 from the Reserve Officer Training Corps and holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is a graduate of the Chemical Officer Basic Course, CBRN Captain Career Course, and Advanced Operation Course.

Guilmette holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Combined Arms Staff Services School and holds a Masters of Strategic Studies (2018) from the US Army War College.

In civilian life, LTC Singh is a Detective with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) New York Field Office. LTC Singh resides in Goshen, New York, with his wife Donna and their two children, Zara and Zoie.

Col. Chris A. Guilmette

Guilmette, a Voorheesville, N.Y., resident, has served as an engineer company commander for the 121st Engineer Battalion (Maryland Army National Guard), an intelligence officer, plans officer, and operations officer for the 204th Engineer Battalion, liaison officer for the 42nd Infantry Division, Commander of the 204th Engineer Battalion and Chief of Plans for the 42nd.

From 2010 to 2013 he served as the Brigade Engineer for the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Syracuse. This included an active duty deployment to Kuwait in 2012.

Guilmette recently returned from a deployment with the 42nd Infantry Division where he served as the Chief of Protection and led the Division's Force Health Protection response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guilmette holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Combined Arms Staff Services School and holds a Masters of Strategic Studies (2018) from the US Army War College.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, and the Maryland National Guard Outstanding Unit Award.

In civilian life, Guilmette is employed as a professional engineer with Iron Mountain Data Centers.

53rd Digital Liaison Detachment

The unit trains to coordinate, communicate and facilitate all aspects of military operations at higher level-headquarters. The DLD is specifically designed and dedicated to providing a critical capability for mission command liaison and interoperability. The unit carries the lineage and honors of the New York National Guard's historic 7th Regiment and is headquartered at the historic Park Avenue Armory.