BRUNSWICK
National guardsman gets promotion
Windham Veevaert of Searsport was promoted to the rank of captain over the February drill period for Forward Support Company, 133rd Engineer Battalion.
A member of the Maine Army National Guard for seven years, he serves as the commander of the Forward Support Company.
Veevaert said he feels honored and grateful for the promotion. “My parents were both Army officers, so it is a big milestone for me personally,” said Veevaert. “Being promoted is also a reminder of the duty and responsibility associated with leadership. I see leadership as a service that provides a framework for those below you to thrive and succeed at their jobs. I ask myself, how can I guide or how can I better facilitate initiative, ideas, and fulfilling action?”
Veevaert works fulltime as the command supply services officer at Joint Force Headquarters in Augusta.

FORT LEONARD WOOD, MO.
Jefferson native graduates from training
Pvt. Gavan Williams of Jefferson graduated from initial active duty training in January after successful completion of Combat Engineer One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
OSUT combines basic combat training and advanced individual training into a 14-week curriculum in a field and classroom environment. The course develops combat engineers in essential basic skills including: basic demolitions, basic explosive hazards, constructing obstacles, fixed bridge building, and operating heavy equipment.
William’s father, Alpha, is the current command sergeant major for the 133rd Engineer Battalion in Brunswick.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Gavan, and look forward to him carrying on a National Guard family tradition,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Williams.
Pvt. Williams carries the family tradition as a fourth-generation member of the Maine Army National Guard.
Williams is now assigned as a combat engineer with the 251st Engineer Company in Norway. The 251st is comprised of highly trained combat engineers who specialize in supporting maneuver units by conducting reconnaissance of bridges and roads, and mine-detection clearing operations with the use of explosives.

SANFORD
262nd Engineer Construction Company changes hands
The Maine Army National Guard’s 262nd Engineer Construction Company held a change of command ceremony March 6 at the Sanford Armory with Capt. Kody Peckham turning over command of the unit to Capt. Danielle Somma.
Somma returns to the 262nd from 133rd Engineer Battalion, where she was a construction officer at the battalion’s headquarters company in Brunswick.
Peckham has held the position for the past three years and is continuing in his full time role as the brigade training officer at the 52nd Troop Command.
The 262nd recently returned from deployment to the southwest border of the United States. While on active duty, the unit provided mobile surveillance support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, resulting in the seizure of nearly 700 pounds of illegal narcotics.
“The privilege I had during this command was once in a lifetime,” said Peckham. “The sacrifices you all make speaks volumes … I’m excited for what the future brings and I’m excited to watch the 262 progress from afar.”
Somma enlisted in the Maine Army National Guard 12 years ago as a heavy equipment operator before commissioning and serving as a platoon leader and executive officer with the 262nd.
“This company is like a home to me,” said Somma. “It’s where I started my military career as an enlisted soldier and grew as a young officer.”
Somma is the first female officer to command the 262nd. She works as a licensed professional engineer diver in Portsmouth, N.H.
“I’m incredibly honored and privileged to take command,” she said.
The 262nd Engineer Company is based out of Sanford and Westbrook.

CASTINE
Student leaders assume duties
Maine Maritime Academy’s Regiment of Midshipmen held its annual change of command ceremony on Feb. 24, transferring authority and responsibilities between two classes of student leaders. Graduating First Class Midshipmen passed their leadership positions to Second Class Midshipmen, who will guide the regiment through the next year.
The Change of Command event was combined with a pinning ceremony for 14 students participating in the Strategic Sealift Midshipman program. These students are part of the Regiment of Midshipmen program and NROTC; they will commission as Naval Reserve Officers upon graduation and join the ranks of our nation’s Strategic Sealift Officers.
Traditionally, the ceremony takes place before the entire regiment. This year the event was held in-person and livestreamed for extended family and friends.
In addition to performing the traditional responsibilities designated by their roles, the outgoing leadership was instrumental in helping facilitate multiple safety initiatives, assisting in training on-campus and aboard the State of Maine training ship, orchestrating a safe regimental preparatory training for incoming freshmen, building a sense of community, maintaining morale, and upholding regimental standards all while adapting to changes brought on by the pandemic.
Outgoing class of 2022 Regimental Commander Midshipman 1/C John Watt, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Greenville, passed his responsibilities to incoming class of 2023 Regimental Commander Midshipman 2/C Natalie Samuels, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Camden.
Outgoing class of 2021-2022 Wedge and Company Commanders:
• Regimental Executive Officer: Midshipman 1/C Maxwell Mattson, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Blue Hill.
• Regimental Operations Officer: Midshipman 1/C Tristan Walker, a Marine Science major from Virginia Beach, Va.
• Cadet Master: Midshipman 1/C Nickolaus Lewis, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Canadensis, Pa.
• Cadet Chief Engineer: Midshipman 1/C Jacob Olson, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Charleston.
• Regimental Adjutant: Midshipman 1/C Patrick Whittam, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Lewes.
• Regimental Physical Training Instructor: Midshipman 1/C Kristian Kibler, a Marine Engineering Operations major from Camden.
• Regimental Public Relations: Midshipman 1/C Gloria Passman, a Marine Biology and Small Vessel Operations major from Bar Harbor.
• Regimental Morale Officer: Midshipman 1/C Joseph Van Ess, a Vessel Operations Technology major from Mechanicsville, Va.
• Regimental Senior Stryker: Midshipman 1/C Catherine Cornell, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Portland.
• Cadet Chief Mate: Midshipman 1/C George Hawley, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Savannah, Ga.
• Cadet 1st Engineer: Midshipman 1/C Mason Oliver, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Deer Isle.
• Band Company: Midshipman 1/C Patrick McEneaney, a Marine Systems Engineering major from Suffolk, Va.
• Alpha Company: Midshipman 1/C Darren Turner, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Charlotte.
• Bravo Company: Midshipman 1/C Sawyer King, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Appleton.
• Charlie Company: Midshipman 1/C Daniel Henesy, a Marine Engineering Operations major from Mount Pleasant, S.C.
• Delta Company: Midshipman 1/C George Hawley, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Savannah, Ga.
• Drill Company: Midshipman 1/C Christian Shepard, Marine Transportation Operations major from Franklin, N.H.

Incoming class of 2022-2023 Wedge and Company Commanders:
• Regimental Executive Officer: Midshipman 2/C William Procko, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Branford, Fla.
• Regimental Operations Officer: Midshipman 2/C Sean Caulfield, a Marine Engineering Operations major from San Diego, Calif.
• Cadet Master: Midshipman 2/C Shannon Estus, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Frewsburg, N.Y.
• Cadet Chief Engineer: Midshipman 2/C Logan Eckman, a Marine Systems Engineering major from Dedham.
• Regimental Adjutant: Midshipman 2/C Tamra Miller, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Warren.
• Regimental Master at Arms: Midshipman 2/C Julia Malcolm, a Marine Systems Engineering major from Trenton.
• Regimental Physical Training Instructor: Midshipman 2/C Cole Eddins, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Fort Smith, Ark.
• Regimental Public Relations: Midshipman 2/C John Egger, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Marion, Mass.
• Regimental Morale Officer: Midshipman 2/C Marshall Joyce, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Virginia Beach, Va.
• Regimental Senior Stryker: Midshipman 2/C Colin Barry, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Norwich, Conn.
• Regimental Academics Officer: Midshipman 2/C Isaac Sewell, Marine Systems Engineering Design major from Bangor.
• Cadet Chief Mate: Midshipman 2/C Kevin Cokgormusler, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Bangor.
• Cadet 1st Engineer: Midshipman 2/C Amber Card, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Bowdoin.
• Band Company: Midshipman 2/C Rodger Hawkins, a Marine Systems Engineering major from Mason, Tenn.
• Alpha Company: Midshipman 2/C Tate Cooper, a Marine Transportation Operations major from North Hampton, N.H.
• Bravo Company: Midshipman 2/C Tiegen Lindstedt, a Marine Engineering Technology major from Gray.
• Charlie Company: Midshipman 2/C Haley Kent, a Marine Science / Small Vessel Operations major from Needham, Mass.
• Delta Company: Midshipman 2/C Patrick Amba, a Marine Transportation Operations major from Walnut Creek, Calif.
• Drill Company: Midshipman 2/C Wolfgang Redman, Power Engineering Technology major from Tega Cay, S.C.
In their new roles, incoming officers will help prepare for this summer’s at-sea training cruise aboard the training ship and the August arrival of the next class of incoming regimental students.

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