FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024
CONTACT: Colorado National Guard Public Affairs, 720-250-1058, ng.co.coarng.list.militarysupport@army.mil
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Colorado Army National Guard State Command Sergeant Major U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Assaad will pass responsibility to U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Erik Miller in a ceremony held at 10:30 a.m., Oct. 19, 2024, at Joint Force Headquarters-Colorado, 6848 S. Revere Parkway, Centennial.
Following the Change of Responsibility, Assaad will retire with 30 years of service at a ceremony at Wings Over The Rockies, 13005 Wings Way, Centennial. A ceremonial canon will be fired by the 169th Field Artillery Brigade, COARNG, in his honor.
“Command Sgt. Maj. Assaad has been a valuable asset to the Colorado National Guard and an outstanding leader and mentor to our Soldiers,” U.S. Army Maj. Gen Laura Clellan, the Adjutant General of Colorado said. Command Sgt. Maj. Miller will continue to bring positive change to the organization and leave a lasting impression as our next state command sergeant major.”
Assaad enlisted in the Kansas Army National Guard in March 1994 as a Field Artillery cannon crewmember and transferred into the COARNG in 1995. He served in every leadership position in Field Artillery from howitzer section chief to brigade command sergeant major. He deployed in support of federal missions overseas as well as state emergency missions in support of domestic operations.
Miller joined the U.S. Army Reserves in 1993. A year later he joined the Active Component becoming a 91B Combat Medic and 91Q Pharmacy Technician. He joined the COARNG in 1999.
In addition to combat medic, Miller has served as a Medical Supply Technician, unit supply, battalion supply, brigade supply, and as the G4 non-commissioner officer.
He has also served multiple roles in operations. He has been mobilized multiple times for state and federal missions and has deployed overseas.
The change of responsibility ceremony is a time-honored tradition that commemorates the symbolic relinquishment of responsibility from one senior NCO to another by passing the organizational colors.