FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, July 10, 2024
CONTACT: 100th MDB Public Affairs Office at aaron.k.gatzke.mil@army.mil or call 720-250-3702/3703
Colorado Army National Guard 100th Missile Defense Brigade welcomes first female commander
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Members of the Colorado Army National Guard 100th Missile Defense Brigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense) will host a change of command ceremony where U.S. Army Col. Joseph Paladino will relinquish command to Col. Dani S. Williams, July 11, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., at Patriot Park Parade Field, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
Family, friends and colleagues of the 100th MDB will bid farewell to Paladino and welcome Williams, the brigade’s first female commander.
“Because of the strategically important 24/7 mission the 100th GMD has in protecting this great nation, it is vital to select the most talented and effective leaders and commanders,” U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Bren Rogers, commanding general, COARNG, said. “Col. Paladino has demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and professionalism while serving as the 100th's commander. Col. Willams is the perfect leader to replace Joe. I congratulate her on this great opportunity to lead this unique mission.”
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, commanding general, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, will preside over the ceremony.
The mission of the 100th MDB is to defend the homeland from intercontinental ballistic missile attack.
Activated Oct. 16, 2003, as the nation’s only missile defense brigade, the 100th Brigade and its subordinate units, the 49th Missile Defense Battalion (GMD), located at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Detachment 1, located in California, are manned by full-time National Guard Soldiers of the respective states.
The headquarters, located in Colorado, is a multi-component unit with a small contingent of active component Soldiers. The brigade operates part of the integrated Ballistic Missile Defense System in concert with sister services. Army National Guard and active-component Soldiers are ready 24/7 to instantly react and destroy any long-range ballistic missile threat to the defended area at any time. The crews are highly trained and use the latest technology.