WINCHESTER, Va. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Transatlantic Division held its Change of Responsibility Ceremony at the Division’s headquarters in Winchester, Va.
During the ceremony, the Division bid farewell to outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Ward and welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Johnson as the new command sergeant major of the Transatlantic Division.
“In both Sgt. Maj. Ward and Sgt. Maj. Johnson we see more than two exceptional noncommissioned officers” said Brig. Gen. Robert Carlson, acting Transatlantic Division commander. “We see men who have completely dedicated their lives to the wellbeing of others while supporting and maintaining the honorable legacy of the NCO Corps.”
Ward joined the Transatlantic Division in July 2012 and was the first ever division command sergeant major within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“At first I wasn’t exactly sure how to utilize this prototypical position,” Carlson said. “Roy’s stalwart pursuit of the highest standards, accountability, and discipline in all assignments and missions ensured that our Soldiers and civilians serving in Winchester and across the globe were well taken care of. He exceeded my expectations and set the standard for other command sergeant majors to follow”
Ward spoke about the importance of the Soldiers and civilians of the Division and their impact to its missions.
“The people who make up this organization are without a doubt the most important asset within the Division,” he said. “We could not be the model of a contingency engineering organization that we are today without your commitment, your dedication, your professionalism and your sense of duty.”
During Ward’s time at the Division, he made an attempt to visit as many field offices in the Middle East as possible.
“This workforce is doing some very important stuff and it’s important for the command to visit the team and recognize them for their efforts,” he said. “These visits also afford an opportunity to see first-hand challenges and understand how to channel resources at the right time and place.”
Working at the Transatlantic Division will be something he always remembers and his experiences are ones he will take with him to his next assignment as the command sergeant major of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
“Working here has been an honor and privilege to serve with this great team,” he said. “The Transatlantic Division is a phenomenal organization filled with some of the best and brightest our Corps has to offer who are committed and dedicated to their profession.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Johnson is coming from Fort Leonard Wood where he served as the command sergeant major of the 1st Engineer Brigade.
“I look forward to working with this great team as we continue to provide professional engineering support to our nation’s Warfighters,” Johnson said. “I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you and learning how I can assist you in accomplishing our mission.”
Johnson entered the Army in November 1986 from Terre Haute, Ind., and has served as a team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant, drill sergeant, Equal Opportunity advisor, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of Directorate of Public Works, first sergeant and command sergeant major.
His deployments and overseas tours include Germany, Honduras, Thailand, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom I and Operation Enduring Freedom IX and XI.
The Transatlantic Division, established in September 2009, supports the Army Corps of Engineers missions with the 20 countries of the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, from Egypt through the Arabian Gulf to Central Asia. In addition, the Division also supports the full spectrum of regional support, including the Afghan National Security Forces, U.S. and coalition forces, counter narcotics and border management, strategic reconstruction support to the U.S. Agency for International Development, Commander’s Emergency Response Program and the Division is currently heavily engaged with support to Operation Inherent Resolve. The division currently has two subordinate districts: the Middle East District collocated in Winchester and the Transatlantic District Afghanistan.