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NEWS | Nov. 9, 2021

351st Civil Affairs Command welcomes a new leader to their ‘team of teams’

By Sgt. 1st Class Lisa M. Litchfield U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne)

Among a crowd of Soldiers, distinguished leaders, family members, and friends of the command, the 351st Civil Affairs Command (CACOM) changed command from Brig. Gen. Isaac Johnson, Jr., to Brig. Gen. Christopher J. Dziubek in a ceremony at the Sgt. James Witkowski Armed Forces Reserve Center, Mountain View, California, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.

Change of command ceremonies transfer authority and responsibility for units and Soldiers from one qualified leader to another. This historic military tradition is centered around the colors, which are passed from the outgoing commander to the incoming commander, ensuring continuity and guaranteeing that the unit and its Soldiers are never without leadership.

Johnson relinquished command after serving tirelessly for several years, some of which were spent during the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating the various challenges inherent in those uncertain times.

“You were the right leader, the right person, the right commander at the right time,” enthused ceremony host Maj. Gen. Jeffrey C. Coggin, commanding general, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne). “You built on what you assumed command on and took it to the next level. We look forward to seeing what’s next for you and where you go from here. You’ve got a lot of great things ahead of you for the Army and the Army Reserve, we thank you for the job you did here and wish you the best for the future.”

Johnson thanked Coggin for his continued trust, guidance, and support, then turned his attention to his successor.

“It’s a pleasure to know the unit will be in great hands,” exclaimed Johnson. “He’s replacing me now as commander of the 351st Civil Affairs Command and I think the Army got this right.”

Dziubek comes to the 351 CACOM with a storied career, serving across the Aviation and Engineer branches before finding himself in Civil Affairs (CA). Lengthy exercise mobilizations throughout the Dominican Republic and Africa, as well as deployments to Tikrit and Ramadi, Iraq, and an assignment in the Republic of Korea have broadened his CA skills and knowledge, preparing him for this crucial next role.

“You’re the commander now,” said Coggin. “You’re responsible for building readiness, and it’s not just about building readiness, it’s about maintaining, how do you utilize it, how do you conserve it? When will you use it and where?”

“I think you’ll lead this command into the next level,” continued Coggin. “I challenge you to continue the legacy of this command, the work that you’ve done, and the work that you’ll do in the future.”

Following the flag ceremony, Dziubek thanked his wife and family for “all the sacrifices you’ve made for what I signed up to do.”

He went on to speak directly to his new Soldiers.

“During my command of the 351 CACOM I hope to achieve one thing – one enduring principle, and that is the recognition that we are a team of teams,” Dziubek explained.

Dziubek went on the break down the composition of the CACOM, highlighting the fact that across the command they had over 200 teams, each of them with between five and nine Soldiers, each with a leader responsible for the Soldiers.

“So, I pledge to you in my time and effort in command of the 351 CACOM, time will be spent on training with those teams so that we are ready when called,” Dziubek promised.

The 351st Civil Affairs Command was organized by the Army in April 1952 and is still located in Mountain View, California, where they continue to assist in rebuilding civil infrastructures, normalizing and restoring governance to nations in contested environments, and have mobilized thousands of Soldiers in support of exercises and operations in the post 9-11 environment.