GATE CITY, Va. –
Lt. Col. Todd Pegg took command of the Virginia National Guard’s Gate City-based 1030th Transportation Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group from Lt. Col. Steve Williams in a change of command ceremony held Oct. 14, 2017, at the Gate City Armory. Col. Weedon Gallagher, the 329th Regional Support Group commander, presided over the exchange of unit colors that represented the transfer of command from Williams to Pegg.
“The 1030th and the Gate City Armory are the backbone of the 329th,” Gallagher said. “Command of the 1030th is a critical position for the 329th. Lt. Col. Steve Williams has served exceptionally well; he’s a superb advocate for his Soldiers and achieved significant gains in unit readiness. His presence in this formation will be missed, yet his steady leadership will continue to influence the battalion and the group.”
Gallagher thanked Williams for his leadership and thanked his family for their support during command.
“Serving as the commander for the 1030th Transportation Battalion was the most rewarding experience in my military career,” said Williams.
“I wish Lt. Col. Pegg all the best as he leads to the 1030th to even greater endeavors,” he said.
Gallagher also welcomed Pegg and his family back to the unit.
“Lt. Col. Pegg has had a distinguished career and is exactly the right leader to take the handoff from Steve and continue to advance the 1030th. Todd served previously at the Gate City Armory and understands the fabric of the community and the formation. We have every confidence in his success,” he said.
Pegg begun his comments by thanking his wife and extended family. He also recognized the Soldiers, noncommissioned officers, and officers for their attendance and support.
“I’ve been in four of Virginia’s major subordinate commands, and am back at the 1030th by choice. I have served and even deployed with many of you before, and know what this team is capable of,” Pegg said.
Williams assumed command of the 1030th Transportation Battalion on June 1, 2015. He earned his commission through ROTC at East Tennessee State University, where he graduated in 1993. He began his military career with the 1030th Engineer Battalion as a platoon leader and also held the position as the battalion logistics officer where he deployed with the battalion to Kuwait in 2003. Williams also completed his first command within the 1030th, where he served as the headquarters detachment commander. Williams works full time for the Virginia National Guard on Active Guard and Reserve status. He served as battalion personnel officer in 2004, then he transitioned to logistics branch in 2006 and subsequently, held duties as the battalion support operations officer and the battalion executive officer. In 2011, Williams was assigned to the Joint Force Headquarters in Sandston, Va. as the service support branch operations officer where he supervised multiple programs. In 2012, Williams was assigned to the joint staff as the deputy J1 with a focus on personnel in response to National Guard Civil Support. In 2014, Williams was assigned as the chief of operations, responsible for the activities of Joint Operations Center, followed by an assignment as the deputy J5 where he was responsible for strategic plans and lead for Virginia’s Department Emergency Management, Emergency Support Function 16. He was most recently assigned as the deputy J3 at Joint Force Headquarters, Sandston, Va.
Pegg began his military career in 1992, where he received his commission from the Virginia Military Institute. He served as a platoon leader, executive officer, and commander of the 229th Chemical Company Pegg mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Pegg mobilized to Afghanistan and Iraq again. In Afghanistan, Pegg served as the assistant S3/S5/NBC officer with 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment. In 2007, he was assigned to the 1030th, where he held positions as the battalion operations officer, the support operations officer and the battalion executive officer. Most recently, he deployed with the 29th Infantry Division as the chief of protection.
The change of command ceremony is a military tradition rooted in history in which uniquely developed flags for each organization are publicly exchanged from the hands of the former commander to the hands of the new commander. This ceremony symbolically marks the change of leadership in military organizations.