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Task Fore Essayons Hq. Detachment changes command

Published April 11, 2019
Capt. Joe Marut, Col. Jim Riely and Capt. Andrea Taylor stand at attention during a Change of Command Ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq, April 6, 2019. Marut relinquished command of the Task Force Essayons (TFE) Headquarters Detachment to Taylor. Riely, the TFE commander, presided over the ceremony.
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Capt. Joe Marut, Col. Jim Riely and Capt. Andrea Taylor stand at attention during a Change of Command Ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq, April 6, 2019. Marut relinquished command of the Task Force Essayons (TFE) Headquarters Detachment to Taylor. Riely, the TFE commander, presided over the ceremony.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Task Force Essayons (TFE) 1st Sergeant Robert Polsunas prepares to pass the unit's flag to TFE Commander Col. Jim Riely, during a Change of Command ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq, April 6, 2019. Capt. Andrea Taylor assumed command of the TFE Headquarters Detachment from Capt. Joe Marut during the ceremony. TFE supports U.S. Army Central in the Middle East, as well as Combined Joint Task Force–Operation Inherent Resolve and U.S. Coalition Partner forces in order to enable the degradation and defeat of ISIS through provision of agile, responsive, forward-deployed project management, engineering, design, construction oversight, environmental, real estate, and base camp master planning capabilities.
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Task Force Essayons (TFE) 1st Sergeant Robert Polsunas prepares to pass the unit's flag to TFE Commander Col. Jim Riely, during a Change of Command ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq, April 6, 2019. Capt. Andrea Taylor assumed command of the TFE Headquarters Detachment from Capt. Joe Marut during the ceremony. TFE supports U.S. Army Central in the Middle East, as well as Combined Joint Task Force–Operation Inherent Resolve and U.S. Coalition Partner forces in order to enable the degradation and defeat of ISIS through provision of agile, responsive, forward-deployed project management, engineering, design, construction oversight, environmental, real estate, and base camp master planning capabilities.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Task Force Essayons (TFE) Commander Col. Riely hands the flag to Capt. Andrea Taylor during a Change of Command ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq, April 6, 2019. Taylor assumed command of the TFE Headquarters Detachment from Capt. Joe Marut (2nd from left) during the ceremony. Also pictured is TFE 1st Sergeant Robert Polsunas.
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Task Force Essayons (TFE) Commander, Col. Jim Riely, hands the flag to Capt. Andrea Taylor during a Change of Command ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq, April 6, 2019. Taylor assumed command of the TFE Headquarters Detachment from Capt. Joe Marut (2nd from left) during the ceremony. Also pictured is TFE 1st Sergeant Robert Polsunas.

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The Transatlantic Division’s Task Force Essayons (TFE) conducted a change of command for its Headquarters Detachment on April 6, 2019, at Camp Taji, Iraq.

TFE Commander Col. Jim Riely presided over the ceremony where Capt. Joe Marut relinquished command to Capt. Andrea Taylor. SFC Robert Polsunas presented the unit colors.

Marut, who is assigned to the ERDC Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab in Hanover, New Hampshire, assumed command of the HHD on April 4, 2018. He will redeploy May 4, 2019, with a follow-on assignment to the 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas. Prior to the change of command ceremony, he was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal and the Bronze deFleury Medal. 

Taylor is assigned to the USACE Contingency Response Unit (CRU), co-located with USACE Headquarters in Washington, D.C. She has assumed the HHD Commander responsibilities for the duration of her deployment in Iraq.

TFE supports U.S. Army Central in the Middle East, as well as Combined Joint Task Force–Operation Inherent Resolve and U.S. Coalition Partner forces in order to enable the degradation and defeat of ISIS through provision of agile, responsive, forward-deployed project management, engineering, design, construction COR and QA oversight, environmental, real estate, and base camp master planning capabilities.


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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division serves as USACE’s tip of the spear in one of the most dynamic construction environments in the world, STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS, BUILDING CAPACITY, and ENHANCING SECURITY for our nation, allies, and partners. 

We SAFELY deliver agile, responsive, and innovative, design, construction, engineering and contingency solutions in support of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command and other global partners to advance national security interests.

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