NC Guard Brigade Holds Change of Command Ceremony

GREENSBORO, NC (01/27/2011)(readMedia)-- The North Carolina National Guard's 113th Sustainment Brigade held a change of command ceremony at the North Carolina National Guard armory here today.

Army Col. Elizabeth D. Austin handed over command of the unit to Army Lt. Col. David L. Jones.

"Today, you will witness the formal and symbolic transfer of command from Colonel Elizabeth Austin to Lieutenant Colonel David Jones," said Army Maj. Regan Pyatt, the master of ceremonies for the change of command event. "The passing of the colors from one commander to another is significant in many ways.

"The very essence of a military unit is symbolized in the colors under which it fights and serves," said Pyatt.

Command Sgt. Maj. William P. Gill, the brigade's sergeant major, retrieved the unit's colors and passed it to Austin, who has served as commander for two years. She passed on the colors to Army Brig. Gen. David L. Jennette, Army Forces Commander for the North Carolina National Guard. Jennette then passed on the colors to Jones, charging him with the responsibility for the brigade.

"Beth Austin has been the right Soldier to lead this brigade," said Jennette. "Thank you for your service."

Other distinguished attendees included: the Honorable Howard Coble, U.S. Representative from North Carolina's Sixth Congressional District; the Honorable Katie G. Dorsett, state senator representing the 28th Senate District; and the Honorable Margaret Moore Jeffus, state representative for the 59th House District. The commander of troops for the ceremony was Army Lt. Col. Miriam Gray, deputy brigade commander 113th Sustainment Brigade.

"In the past two years, you have all excelled in anything that has come your way," said Austin. "This has definitely been fun and time has passed quickly."

Austin also thanked her husband for his support during her farewell speech.

Pyatt read a letter from William H. Knight, mayor of Greensboro, N.C.

"On behalf of the citizens of Greensboro and the Greensboro City Council, it is my pleasure to extend our congratulations to you as you assume command of the North Carolina Army National Guard's 113th Sustainment Brigade," wrote Knight. "We appreciate your service to your countrymen and your commitment to the security of our nation."

Austin, a career logistics officer, currently has more than 30 years of service in the North Carolina National Guard. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Excelsior University and a Master's in Strategic Studies, which she received upon graduation from the United States Army War College. She earned her commission from the federal Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., in 1980.

Austin's awards include: the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three service stars, the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait and Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia and numerous service awards.

Austin currently works as a federal technician with the North Carolina National guard as the Director of Logistics. She is married to Col. (retired) Mike Austin and has three children, one of which who has followed her parents' career into the military.

Jones, a native of Statesville, N.C., is a graduate of Elon College. He received his commission through Elon's ROTC program in 1988 and was a Distinguished Military Graduate. Jones is the broker/owner of Carolina Realty World located in Statesville.

After the ceremony, Jones was promoted to the rank of colonel.

The 113th Sustainment Brigade was originally formed in 1974 as the 113th Field Artillery Brigade and reorganized to a Sustainment Brigade on Sept. 1, 2008, as part of the early 21st century transformation of the United States Army from a division-based structure to a brigade-based Army. To date, the 113th Sustainment Brigade has been a key contributor to mobilizing units within the North Carolina National Guard in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom by providing personnel, transportation and equipment support. The 113th Sustainment Brigade is composed to three battalions: the 690th Brigade Support Battalion, headquartered in Kinston, N.C.; the 630th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, headquartered in Lenoir, N.C.; and the 113th Special Troops Battalion, headquartered in Greensboro, N.C. The first commander of the 113th brigade was Army Brig. Gen. James R. Gorham, Director, Joint Staff, North Carolina National Guard Joint Force Headquarters.