By Sgt. Gregory T. Summers
4th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
Col. Scott Gallaway receives the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, colors from Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, during a ceremony July 21, 2017, at Founders Field. Gallaway is the third commander of 4th CAB since it was reactivated at Fort Carson in 2013. (Photo by Edward Krayenhagen)
Col. Scott Gallaway assumed command of the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, during a ceremony July 21, 2017, on Founders Field.
Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, presided over the ceremony where Col. Lori L. Robinson relinquished command of the “Iron Eagles” Brigade to Gallaway.
After a traditional pass and review of the troops, Robinson accepted the brigade’s colors from 4th CAB Command Sgt. Maj. Marty Book, and handed them over to Gonsalves, representing the end of her command. Gonsalves thanked her for her service and then passed the colors on to Gallaway, signifying the beginning of his command. The incoming commander then returned the colors to Book, acknowledging their new partnership as the brigade’s command team.
The 4th CAB provides aerial support to Fort Carson’s brigade combat teams and other units of the installation with its fleet of AH-64 Apache, CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
Gallaway arrives to the Mountain Post from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as the commander of 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.
Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, second from left, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, presides over a July 21, 2017, ceremony that transferred command of the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Inf. Div., from Col. Lori L. Robinson, right, to Col. Scott Gallaway, left. (Photo by Sgt. Gregory T. Summers)
“I am honored and humbled by the privilege to command this storied brigade,” Gallaway said to the crowd in attendance and the Soldiers on the field. “I look forward to serving with each and every one of you in the days ahead.”
He has deployed to Kuwait as an Apache helicopter platoon leader, Iraq as an aviation task force operations officer and Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter company commander, aviation brigade operations officer and most recently as an aviation battalion task force commander.
His previous assignments include strategist in Army War Plans, assistant executive officer to the Army G-3/5/7 and special assistant to the Army’s chief of staff. In lieu of the senior service college, Gallaway was selected for the Army’s Strategic Planning and Policy Program.
Gallaway thanked Robinson for her efforts to prepare him to take over the brigade.
“This has been undoubtedly the best transition I have ever experienced, which says a lot about the culture you have fostered within this brigade,” Gallaway said. “It’s great to be here.”
Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, presents Col. Lori L. Robinson, outgoing commander, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Inf. Div., with the Legion of Merit prior to the brigade’s change of command ceremony July 21, 2017. (Photo by Sgt. Gregory T. Summers, 4th CAB Public Affairs, 4th Inf. Div.)
Robinson assumed command of 4th CAB in July 2015. In 2016, the brigade deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel as the Theater Aviation Brigade Task Force, Task Force Iron Eagle, operating out of Bagram Airfield with more than 100 aircraft.
Under Robinson’s leadership, 4th CAB supported 22 allied nations across four regional commands, the largest geographical area of any deployed combat aviation brigade.
“As I reflect on what I am most proud of during my last two years, I really don’t think of the number of hours we have flown or even the fact that we deployed,” Robinson said. “What I am most proud of is the teamwork, the safety record and the can-do attitude of our Iron Eagle team.
“This aviation brigade has the most modernized helicopters, unmanned aerial systems, world-class facilities and tremendously talented Soldiers. Together, this combination will be unstoppable, and it has been my distinct honor and privilege to have served among you as the commander of 4th CAB. Rest assured, you Iron Eagles will continue to soar under Gallaway’s leadership.”
Robinson’s next assignment will be at the Pentagon where she will serve as the deputy director of Army Aviation, Headquarters, Department of the Army G3/5/7.
Gallaway becomes the third commander of 4th CAB since its reactivation at Fort Carson in 2013.