Delta Company 169th Engineer Battalion holds change of command

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Randall Moose
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
Delta Company, 169th Engineer Battalion held a change of command ceremony at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy April 26.

At the ceremony, Capt. Christopher Gibbs, D CO 169th EN BN commander, transferred command of the company to Capt. Brian Sekita. In a symbolic exchange of authority, Gibbs passed the unit guideon to his superior, Lt. Col. Aaron Boher, 169th EN BN commander, who then passed the flag to Sekita.

“It’s always a privilege and an honor to serve as a reviewing officer,” said Boher. “Especially when it’s celebrating the tremendous accomplishments of such a superb team that you see out here today.”

Boher congratulated Gibbs’ leadership.

“Now you’d be hard pressed to find a leader with as much compassion and pride in this team as Capt. Gibbs. He truly understands the importance of the people that make up our force and our regiment. Through his leadership, his unit has had a world-changing impact that stretches well beyond the fences of the air bases here in central Texas.”

Gibbs praised Delta Company’s accomplishments and welcomed Sekita to the job.

“It is said that a man who does not respect tradition makes the mistake of ignoring the past,” said Gibbs. “That past, full of its success and failure, has shaped who we are today. I am proud to say Delta Company has continued the tradition of excellence.”

Gibbs noted that D CO 169th EN BN provided thousands of hours of instruction to hundreds of students, promoted 16 Soldiers in two locations and is one proud engineering team.

“I’m amazed at those accomplishments this outstanding team has accumulated. And, I’m honored to have served alongside and lead Delta Company. Capt. Sekita, you are inheriting a great team. You are the perfect fit for this job. I wish you and your wife the best of luck in your endeavors leading Delta Company. I know the cadre and team will support you unwaveringly.”

As Sekita assumed charge of the company, he acknowledged the quality of the students and staff he was inheriting.

“Luckily for me, we have an outstanding company here,” said Sekita. “My goal is to sustain and improve that relationship, which ultimately leads to a better trained solider. We do joint training, and so all the students, no matter what service they are, will get the same training from instructors from each branch in the same class. That is a very important part to our contribution to the military. I was a former Airman, when I first enlisted. I also studied firefighting as a degree. I have been involved in aviation maintenance and engineering units before, combining all that experience together will help me be a well-rounded commander as well as being able to interact with the community. It really is a team effort.”

D CO 169th EN BN continuously trains Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen in firefighting plumbing and power line distribution in preparation for unified land operations, to fight and win our nation’s wars.