Ryan Morton CHANGING OF THE GUARD -- Fort Dix bids farewell to Col. Ronald Thaxton, left, who served as installation commander for the past two years. With Thaxton’s departure, Col. Patrick Slowey, center, takes the helm in a ceremony held on Doughboy Field June 30. Command Sgt. Maj. Bonita Davis, Fort Dix command sergeant major, stands at right. Also a part of the ceremony is Russell B. Hall, Director, Northeast Region Installation Management Command.

Col. Patrick Slowey replaced Col. Ronald R. Thaxton as commanding officer of Fort Dix in a change of command ceremony held Tuesday morning, June 30, at Doughboy Field.

Slowey becomes the 92nd commanding officer (including interim and temporary appointments) of Fort Dix since Camp Dix began training doughboys for duty in World War I in 1917.

The post has fallen under the U.S. Army Reserve Command since 1997, with its mission as a power projection platform greatly expanded since 9/11. Since that time, more than 153,000 Soldiers have mobilized and demobilized through Fort Dix in support of the Global War on Terrorism, a record unmatched by any other military installation in America.

Although its mission won’t change, Fort Dix will join McGuire AFB and the Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst in a streamlined Joint Base with property and funds transferring to Air Force control on Oct. 1 of this year.

But Tuesday’s 55-minute ceremony concerned the Fort Dix chain of command with Installation Deputy Commander Lt. Col. William Ayers acting as commander of troops. Other participating units included the 10th Mountain Division Band, fresh from Fort Drum, N.Y. They were commanded by Chief Warrant Officer Three William McCulloch, who was aided by his drum major, Sgt. Christopher Lawrence. First Lt. Kenneth L. Tenebro led a contingent force representing Mobilization and Demobilization Soldiers from Fort Dix. NCO Academy and Trainers at Dix were ably commanded and represented by Sgt. Maj. McClinton Brown. Maj. Denise Wurzbach brought along some Soldiers representing Fort Dix, too, along with the installation color guard putting Dix’s best foot forward.

Chief Air Control man Donovan Davis stood in front of the line with other members of the U.S. Navy’s delegation, which was composed of Sailors from Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station and the Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center at Fort Dix. Representatives from the United States Air Force included Airmen from McGuire Air Force Base, commanded by Capt. Donovan Davis and Lt. Michael M. Weaver, led the Atlantic Strike Team from the United States Coast Guard detachment at Fort Dix.

An invocation by Fort Dix’s Chap. (Col.) Thomas H. Brouillard began the day’s ceremonial rites, which were spruced up considerably by marching tunes played by the 10th Mountain Division Band. Their version of "It’s A Grand Old Flag" was especially stirring. Mellifluous tones also sprung forth from the public address system courtesy of Col. Douglas Satterfield, commander of the 3rd Brigade‘s Hunter Division (Civil Affairs-Psychological Operations), a nationwide unit headquartered in the Bronx and dedicated to making enemies uncomfortable. In his civilian guise, Satterfield serves as project manager for training support material under the aegis of K-Mar Industries, Inc. at Fort Dix.

Satterfield announced the formation of troops which was followed by a presentation of flowers to wives of the respective commanders. A socko version of the national anthem rang out and then the flag, or colors, was given from Thaxton to his successor, Slowey, symbolizing and effectively authorizing an official change of command.

The first speaker to grace the dais was Russell B. Hall, director of the Northeast Region’s Installation Management Command. He urged the troops to rest and relax as he praised them and their comrades-in-arms for serving the country when it’s in need. He observed that this is the year of the NCO and Dix represents the best of that breed anywhere in the Army.

Outgoing commander Col. Ronald R. Thaxton did a hell of a job in Hall’s estimation, keeping track of a killing training pace while simultaneously planning for integration into the upcoming Joint Basing scheme.

He wished Thaxton well in his upcoming command at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Hall also read greetings from former Congressman Jim Saxton (R-NJ 3rd, in office 1984-2009), who did so much for the success and survival of Fort Dix while he served in Washington before retiring for health reasons.

Outgoing Installation Commander Col. Ronald R. Thaxton spoke next, thanking God and nearly everyone on Fort Dix for helping make his tenure here a successful one. He had especially kind words for the civilian work force at Dix, noting it was the first time he had worked closely with such a group and he leaves them behind following a halo of admiration. He also praised his Command Sgt. Maj., Bonita Davis, for being rock-like in her execution of command imperatives.

Finally, the new commander, Col. Patrick Slowey spoke. He praised the 10th Mountain Division Band, and extended the salutation to all the soldiers standing under an increasingly formidable morning sun. Slowey said he was very grateful to be back at Dix after eight years, expressed admiration for many improvements he’s seen and observed that the one constant over the years has been the dedication of Soldiers and civilians here who make up Team Dix and have helped build Fort Dix into an impressive military enterprise.

Slowey is a graduate of Colorado State University at Fort Collins, where he received his commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in May 1983.

Slowey’s first assignment in the Army was as an Assault Gun and Anti-tank Platoon Leader and Rife Company Executive Officer with the 2nd Bn., 60th Infantry (Motorized), and as Battle Simulations Officer, G-3, I Corps, and Fort Lewis, Wash.

In 1987, he left active duty to attend graduate school at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC).

While at UNC, he joined the United States Army Reserve as an assistant S-3 in the 3rd Battalion, 87 Infantry at Fort Carson, Colo. While assigned there, he commanded both the Combat Support and Headquarters Companies to include a mobilization and deployment to the Federal Republic of Germany in support of Operation Desert Storm.

Following that deployment, Slowey served as a battalion executive officer for the 244th Engineer Bn. out of Denver and as an assistant inspector general in the 96th Army Reserve Command operating from Salt Lake City.

After serving as operations officer for USEUCOM’s Military Liaison Team in Trencin, Slovakia, the colonel entered the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) program as the Inspector General for the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Dix. Subsequently, he was assigned as operations officer at Headquarters, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Fort Monroe, Va.

In 2002, Slowey was selected as the deputy garrison commander at Fort Hood, Texas before being tasked to command the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Battalion at Michigan Technological University in Houghton two years later. In June 2006, Slowey joined the 9th Regional Readiness Command located in Fort Shafter, Hawaii. There he served as inspector general before moving up to the post of deputy commander.

Militarily, the colonel’s education has been very thorough. Completed courses include the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms Service Staff School, USMC Amphibious Warfare School, Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.

Slowey holds a Master’s Degree in History from the University of Northern Colorado and in Strategic Studies from the Army War College. The colonel’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, and the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters along with various other awards and decorations.

After the colors were retired, everyone sang along to the Army Song and the official party departed, closing still another chapter in the ongoing saga of Fort Dix.

Read the Post Online for July 3, 2009.