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Col. Miguel A. Castellanos assumed command of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 7th Civil Support Command’s 361st Civil Affairs Brigade in a ceremony April 21 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center gymnasium.
The 7th CSC is the only U.S. Army Reserve command stationed outside the continental U.S.
Officiating the ceremony was Brig. Gen. Paul M. Benenati, the 7th CSC commanding general. In his remarks, Benenati expressed a feeling of honor to be standing in front of the formation and also recognized former acting commander Lt. Col. James L. DeRose III for his leadership until a permanent commander was assigned.
Benenati praised the 361st CA Bde. for its significant importance in military history.
Before turning the podium over to Castellanos, Benenati stressed the importance of the Army Reserve as a cost-effective force for the future of U.S. national defense needs.
“The Army cannot go to war without us,” Benenati said.
Castellanos stressed to his new unit the importance of enhancing relationships with allied partner nations.
Castellanos’ most recent assignment was with the 7th Psychological Operations Group at Moffett Field, Calif., where he was the deputy commander and served as acting group commander for 16 months.
Castellanos has held various leadership positions in Germany, the U.S. and through his deployments to the Middle East and Africa, since receiving his commission as an infantry officer in 1987.
Castellanos also served a year-long tour with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning, Ga. and is authorized to wear the “President’s Hundred” tab for his demonstrated marksmanship abilities.
The colonel has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Arts from The California State University and a masters degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Penn.
Castellanos promised his Soldiers to give his best and said he too would be expecting the best of his new unit. He also expressed his gratitude to his new Soldiers.
“I thank you for your service,” he said.
The 361st CA Bde. was activated as part of the 7th CSC on Sept. 17, 2010, at Daenner Kaserne in Kaiserslautern.
Since that time, the unit’s Soldiers have deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They have also supported various U.S. and international operations and exercises.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were members of Castellanos’ family, some of his friends and dignitaries including Col. Wiebe Baron, Royal Netherlands Army.
