September 10, 2016 –
SLOAN, Nev. – Lt. Col. Peter F. Gleason, a Tracy, California resident, assumed command of the 63rd Brigade Support Battalion from Lt. Col. Debra A. Cisney, who has led the unit for the past two years, at the George W. Dunaway Army Reserve Center in Sloan, Nev. September 10.
Col. Joseph Riciardi, 303rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade commander, located at Fort Shafter Flats, Hawaii, was present to transfer the unit colors to Lt. Col. Gleason from Lt. Col Cisney, who has led the unit for two years.
Gleason earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from St. Mary’s College, Moraga, California. He began his 31-year Army Reserve career as an Adjutant General enlisted Soldier in 1984 and in 1995 he attended Officer Candidates School at Fort Benning, Ga., and was commissioned as a Quartermaster Officer.
The ceremony began with the traditional ceremonial pageantry. The standing units were summoned to order arms. The audience stood for the Presentation of the Colors and Honors, and the units were brought to present arms, then to parade rest. These displays of uniformity were executed with discipline and precision.
Gleason was enthusiastic and energized as he accepted the 63rd BSB command, thanking the Soldiers and distinguished visitors for their presence and thanking Col. Riccardi and Col. Toni Glover, 650th Regional Support Group commander, for this opportunity.
“I want to thank my wife Sherry, my daughter Meghan and son Paul who have given up many evenings, weekends and holidays supporting me,” said Gleason. “I want to promise the 63rd BSB Soldiers, that I will create a positive atmosphere of teamwork and build trust with each other and with your leadership.”
In the center of the transportation space, the formal transfer of authority and responsibility for the unit took place. Command Sgt. Maj. Alan Roberts, who is the keeper of the colors, passed the colors to Cisney, the outgoing commander. She then passed the colors to Col. Riccardi, the representative of the higher command, symbolizing the relinquishment of her command. Col. Riccardi then delivered the colors to Gleason, the new commander. Finally, the new commander passed it back to the command sergeant major, who is charged with protecting it. At the end of the ceremony, the commander of the higher command ordered the new battalion commander to take charge of his battalion.
Cisney was very modest and humble as she made her closing remarks. Even though she was vital in opening and running the new George W. Dunaway Army Reserve Center, she gave all the credit to her subordinates, thanking them for her success.
“Even though I was given my 20-year letter 17 years ago, I’m here because I want to be, not because I have to be,” said Cisney. “I’m very proud to be an American and I love serving my country.”
The ceremony concluded with a catered reception at the reserve center that included a personalize cake and cerebration with Gleason’s extended family, unit Soldiers and invited guests.
The 63rd BSB is one of three U.S. Army reserve units that is structured to support the Maneuver Enhancement Brigades with all classes of supply, field maintenance and transportation in a constantly changing environment. The battalion support can rapidly mobilize and deploy anywhere in the world and provide sustained logistical support to organic units that occupy the MEB theatre of operation.