JBLM: Change Of Command For 555th Engineer Brigade On Thursday

The 555th Engineer Brigade will conduct a Change of Command and Change of Responsibility on Thursday.

Col. Michael Brobeck will relinquish command of the brigade to Col. Nicholas Katers.

Brobeck has served as the commander of the 555th Engineer Bde., or "Triple Nickel," since November 2009. During his command, he led eight battalions in three states, commanding more than 4000 troops. Those battalions include the 14th Engineer Battalion, 864th  Engineer Battalion at JBLM, the 4th Engineer Battalion and 52nd Engineer Battalion at Fort Carson, CO, and the 1st Engineer Battalion at Fort Riley, KS, and administrative responsibility for the 23rd Chemical Bn., 110th Chemical Bn., and 3rd Explosive Ordnance Bn., also at JBLM.

Brobeck previously served in Alexandria, VA, as Chief of the U.S. Army's Engineer Branch. His next assignment will be at the Pentagon, where he will serve on the Joint Staff.

Col. Nicholas Katers, The incoming commander, recently graduated from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI. He previously served as commander of the 84th Engineer Battalion (Construction Effects) in Hawaii, and deployed with the unit to Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Command Sgt. Major Elmo Leichenauer took responsibility of the 555th Engineer Bde. in October, 2010. He previously served as I Corps' Chief Engineer Non-Commissioned Officer at JBLM, from 2008 to 2010.

Command Sgt. Major Kevin Bryan, the incoming Command Sergeant Major, previously served as recent the Brigade Command Sergeant Major for 1st Engineer Bde., Fort Leonard Wood, MS.