Lt. Col. Zachary T. Miller officially took command of the 407th Army Field Support Battalion-Riley from outgoing commander Lt. Col. Brian D. Beiner during a change of command ceremony June 30 at Cavalry Parade Field.

     The ceremony capped Beiner’s two-year run as the AFSBn-Riley commander, a time for which Beiner has been extremely grateful.

     “I have been humbled to lead this battalion the last two years,” he said. “This battalion makes its presence known not just at Fort Riley, but at Fort Knox (Kentucky) and Fort Leavenworth (Kansas).”

     Col. Eric P. Shirley, commander of the 407th Army Field Support Brigade, had high praise for Beiner.

     “Brian and the Packer Battalion have accomplished tremendous feats in the logistics community here at Fort Riley,” he said.

     Some of those feats include supporting Combat Training Center and National Training Center rotations, and preparing to support missions to CENTCOM.

     It has not merely been Beiner’s accomplishments that have drawn praise over the last two years. His wife, Rebecca, has also been instrumental in improving the quality of life at Fort Riley.

     “Rebecca has helped coordinate many holiday, birthday and other special events in the battalion,” Shirley said.

     Beiner also called his children, Jude and Genevieve, “gifts from God.” Miller comes to Fort Riley after serving as the Professor of Military Science for the Oregon State University Army ROTC program in Corvallis, Oregon. He’s excited to become a part of AFSBn-Riley and embrace the challenges that are ahead.

     “I’m honored and humbled to be asked to contribute to the next chapter and future success of the legendary Big Red One,” Miller said.

     Beiner also encouraged Miller to enjoy his time with AFSBn-Riley.

     “You’ll enjoy your time in command as much as I did,” he said. “Two years of command goes by too fast. Enjoy every minute of it.”

     Before the change of command ceremony, Beiner was also presented with the Meritorious Service Medal. His wife, Rebecca, was presented with the Lady Victory Award.

     AFSBn-Riley’s mission is to provide and synchronize the capabilities of the Army Materiel Command enterprise in order to sustain combat power of Army forces within its area of operations, while integrating and synchronizing the Army’s Acquisition, Logistics and Technology capabilities in support of the Army Modular Force. AFSBn-Riley was converted in 2008 from the Fort Riley, AMC Logisitics Assistance Office. The AFSBn supports all Army active component units at Forts Riley, Leavenworth, Leonard Wood, Missouri and Knox, a reserve component, and National Guard units in five states, including Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota and Nebraska.