The 101st Airborne Division will welcome a new commanding general during a ceremony at Fort Campbell Thursday afternoon. A release says the 46th commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division, Major General Andrew Poppas, will relinquish command of the world’s only air assault division to Major General Brian Winski.
Most recently, Army officials say Poppas, of Jamesville, Wisconsin, and the division’s headquarters returned from a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan, where they served at the fore of the conditions-based U.S. South Asia Strategy and the NATO-led, 41-nation Resolute Support mission. In addition to overseeing the train, advise and assist mission and supporting the Afghan National Defense Security Forces, the “Screaming Eagles” synchronized the U.S. counterterrorism operations, keeping America safe and setting the conditions for a political and peaceful settlement to the Afghanistan conflict.
Fort Campbell officials note Winski, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is no stranger to Fort Campbell of the Kentucky-Tennessee region. He served in the 101st Airborne Division for over 12 years, including as 1st Squadron, 61sts Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division commander both at home and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His last assignment to Fort Campbell was in 2009 when he served as the division operations officer, deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His most recent assignment was the Chief, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Army.
The change of command ceremony will begin at 1:00 Thursday at Fort Campbell.
