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NEWS | Nov. 3, 2015

11th Theater Aviation Command welcomes new Command Sergeant Major at change of responsibility ceremony

By Capt. Matthew Roman 11th Theater Aviation Command

The 11th Theater Aviation Command held its Change of Responsibility Ceremony Oct. 18 at Brooks Field, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Brig. Gen. Scott Morcomb, the commanding general of the 11th Theater Aviation Command, transferred the senior enlisted duties and responsibilities of more than 4200 soldiers, from Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Hatchell, to Command Sgt. Maj. JamesPeter Matthews.

Officers, noncommissioned officers, civilians and family members bid farewell to their outgoing command sergeant major and welcomed their new command sergeant major as the 100th Army Band supported the ceremony by providing music for the national anthem as well as all the ceremonial numbers.

“To all our aviation soldiers, families and civilians, I look forward to serving all of you, as we serve our Nation together,” Matthews said.

Matthews, a Winsted, Connecticut native, has been a member of the United States Army for over 30 years. He entered the U.S. Army Reserves in May 1985, completing basic training and Advanced Individual Infantryman training at Fort Benning, Georgia.

“Some of us may be tired, others exhausted, but our nation’s fight against those that want to bring harm to our fellow Americans and our way of life, is not yet complete. Our Nation’s people still depend on our might and our resolve, and there is still much to do. There is no time for rest, there is no time to take an extended knee, yet there is no doubt in my mind that together we will power through and continue to earn the trust of our Nation’s people,” added Matthews.

Throughout Matthews’ distinguished military career, he has held noncommissioned officer key leadership positions with his latest assignment being the division command sergeant major for the 76th Operational Response Command in Fort Douglas, Utah. His last assignment allowed him to experience duel-missioned responsibilities as the Task Force-76 command sergeant major for Army North’s Defense in Support of Civil Authorities mission.

Matthews has completed a multitude of military education to include Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Advance Noncommissioned Officers Course, Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course, First Sergeant Course, Command Sergeants Major Designee Course, Sergeants Major Course, and the Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course.

In his civilian life, Matthews is a career Firefighter, currently holding the rank of Fire Lieutenant, assigned to Engine #5 of the West Hartford Fire Department, West Hartford, Connecticut. He continues his community involvement as a member of Elk’s Lodge #844, American Legion Post #96, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #296 and Winsted Fire Department’s BSA Fire Explorer Post #911.

In his closing remarks, Matthews presented a new challenge to those under his responsibility, “I challenge you to be vigilant in the performance of your service to our soldiers and their families. Perform your duties knowing, that serving as a leader is not an entitlement for your years of service, rather it is a privilege and we must earn that privilege every day, through the trust of our soldiers and commanders.”