By Staff Sgt. Scott J. Evans
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Col. Guillaume “Will” Beaurpere, incoming deputy commander, 4th Infantry Division, addresses the audience Aug. 22, 2019, during his welcoming ceremony held at Founders Field. Beaurpere served previously under 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and said he is looking forward to the opportunity to serve with the division headquarters. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Scott J. Evans)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — The “Ivy” Division officially welcomed Col. Guillaume “Will” Beaurpere as the new deputy commander of the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, and bade farewell to Brig. Gens. Joseph A. Ryan and Kevin D. Admiral during a ceremony Aug. 22, 2019, at Founders Field.
“The sweet part about today is welcoming the Beaurpere Family,” said Maj. Gen. Randy A. George, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson. “Will and his Family are not strangers to Fort Carson. He spent a bunch of time in 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and if you get the chance to look through a resume of somebody who is a seasoned leader, a combat leader, an educated leader — that’s Will Beaurpere.”
Beaurpere expressed his eagerness to begin working in his new role.
“This is one of the highlights of my career, and I am really looking forward to it,” Beaurpere said. “It’s an honor to be here.”
George praised the outgoing leaders and said he appreciated their professionalism and dedication to the 4th Inf. Div. and its Soldiers, both at Fort Carson as well as during the division headquarters’ recent deployment to Afghanistan.
“I’m going to miss you guys. We’ve been blessed to have you, and we’d like to have you back to Fort Carson in a couple of years, mainly because we love our Soldiers here and we want to have great leaders,” George said, addressing Admiral and Ryan. “Either one of you would be an incredible commanding general here at Fort Carson.”
George spoke about the deep respect he has for both Ryan and Admiral as quality performers and professionals during their time at the Mountain Post.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Brig. Gens. Kevin D. Admiral, right; and Joseph A. Ryan, center, receive the Legion of Merit award and are given engraved canisters as tokens of appreciation of their dedication to the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson during a welcome and farewell ceremony Aug. 22, 2019, held at Founders Field. The two leaders are taking assignments at Fort Benning, Ga. and Fort Bragg, N.C., respectively. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Scott J. Evans)
“I always had Kevin and Joe brief first because I knew these guys were going to set the example for every other (Tactical Command Post) and Task Force commander,” George said.
During his farewell address, Ryan recalled when George had personally reached out to him one day at Fort Myer, Virginia, asking him to take a leadership position with the 4th Inf. Div.
“That’s unique. Not everybody does that,” Ryan said. “I didn’t get asked by anybody else … and I came because it’s nice to be wanted. It also inspires great loyalty.”
Admiral, too, thanked the leaders of the division, as well as his Family during the ceremony.
“I want to thank my wife and daughter for their love and support in making sure everything was successful here with our Families, but also so I could do my job (in Afghanistan), while they were taking care of business back home,” Admiral said.
Beaurpere said he looks forward to working with every one of the brigade commanders and tenant units.
“Coming to the Mountain Post is really coming home,” he said.
Admiral will be heading to Fort Benning, Georgia, and Ryan is going to serve at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.