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Twenty-five years ago, a young officer candidate stood before family and friends, raised his right hand and took an oath to serve his country. Since 1986 this Charleston, S.C., native has taken the oath five more times while rising to the rank of colonel, where he currently commands an Army Reserve brigade here in Europe.
Meet Army Reserve Col. Ardis G. Ferguson, the commander of the 209th Army Liaison Team, 7th Civil Support Command and a senior logistics management specialist for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th CSC as a civilian.
The 209th ALT is a brigade-sized element structured under the 7th CSC which provides liaison capabilities with Joint Task Force Commanders and coalition forces during active operations.
Its subordinate units such as the 406th Human Resources Company or the 1172nd Movement Control Team can be called upon to provide personnel and logistical support and provide capabilities to assist the Incident Management Commander or the 7th CSC’s Incident Management Team during a foreign consequence management occurrence.
“To take this unit forward is an honor and a challenge,” said Ferguson, who assumed command in March 2010. “Yes, the unit only meets once a month and two weeks during the year, but being a commander is a full time job.”
Ferguson has held positions at many levels of command and primary staff which has allowed him to hone his skills as a leader. Commissioned as a second lieutenant through Officer Candidate School, his first assignment was in northern Germany as a special weapons artillery officer. Ferguson’s duties have taken him around the world since that time, to include assignments in Turkey, the United States, Germany and combat tours in Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Ferguson will complete the U.S. Army War College in July.
“I met Colonel or Mr. Ferguson when he arrived as the Senior Logistics Management Specialist and he jumped right into his duties,” said 1st Sgt. Okey M. Tredway, Jr., the first sergeant for Charlie Company, 457th Civil Affairs Battalion, 361st Civil Affairs Brigade, 7th CSC, and supply non-commissioned officer for the 209th ALT.
“As the logistics NCO in charge, I receive guidance from Ferguson and we execute it,” said Tredway. “I find him very knowledgeable in the logistics field.”
As for the future, Ferguson continues to lead by his profession and ensures officers and senior NCOs focus on understanding and living by the Army Values. “This is my chosen profession. I’m doing what I love and having a grand time doing it,” said Ferguson. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
