NY Army National Guard battalion headquartered in Rochester gets new command during Saturday, August 17 ceremony

Media Advisory

ROCHESTER, New York (08/15/2024) — New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Christopher Gagliardo, an Afghanistan War veteran, will take command of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion on Saturday August 17th at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester International Airport.

The battalion has elements in Rochester, Dunkirk, Fort Hamilton, and Long Island.

Gagliardo, a resident of Portville in Cattaraugus County, will replace Lt Col. Henry Chandler who will become deputy state aviation officer for the New York Army National Guard.

Members of the press are invited to cover the change of command

WHO: Lt. Col. Christopher Gagliardo, the incoming commander; Lt. Col. Henry Chandler, the outcoming commander; and Col. Jason Lefton, commander of the 42nd Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade who will preside over the ceremony.

WHAT: A traditional military change-of-command ceremony in which the colors, or flag, of the battalion is transferred from Chandler to Gagliardo by the brigade commander, Col. Jason Lefton. This signals the change of responsibility and authority for the command from one leader to another. Traditionally the unit's colors marked the location of the commander on the battlefield and the ceremony allowed the Soldiers to know who their commander was.

Following the change of command, a ceremony will be held to mark the transition of the battalion's senior enlisted leader from Command Sgt. Major Debora Mallet to Command Sgt. Major David Youngs.

WHEN: 10 a.m., Saturday, August 17th, 2024

WHERE: Army Aviation Support Facility, 76 Patriot Way, Rochester, N.Y.

Coverage Opportunities:

Reporters will have the opportunity to interview both the incoming and outgoing commanders. Video and photographic opportunities include Soldiers in formation as well as the ceremony in which the unit colors are transferred.

Reporters must contact Lt. Josh Craft at (585)783-5451 for access to the secure military facility.

BACKGROUND

Lt. Col. Christopher Gagliardo:

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Christopher Gagliardo commissioned as an officer from, St. Bonaventure University in 2003. In January 2004, Gagliardo moved to Fort Rucker, Alabama, to attend the Initial Entry Rotary Wing and Aviation Officer Basic Course. Upon completing the course in January 2005, he became a rated aviator in the CH-47D Chinook and TH-67 Bell Jet Ranger.

Gagliardo served as a platoon leader with Detachment 1, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB) before taking command of that unit in August 2006. During his command, he deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008, where they were attached to the 82nd Airborne and later the 101st Airborne Divisions.

After his command, Gagliardo was assigned as the operations officer of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion from 2010-2012, attending the Aviation Maintenance Managers Course and the Captain's Career Course.

In 2016, Gagliardo was reassigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team as the Brigade Aviation Officer.

He has attended numerous Army schools, including High Altitude Aviation Training Site, and Intermediate Level Education Common Core and Advanced Operations Course.

In his civilian career, Gagliardo serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Career and Technical Education at Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES. His journey in education began after earning a bachelor's degree in Sociology and a master's degree in Adolescent Education from Saint Bonaventure University.

He has been married to his wife, Tiffany, for 21 years, and together they have four children: Autumn, Brenton, Brock, and Alana.

Lt. Col. Henry Chandler

Chandler was commissioned in 2005 as an officer from Montana State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.

Upon completion of the Aviation Officer Basic Course, Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, and the UH-60 Blackhawk Aircraft Qualification Course, Chandler was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 137th Assault Helicopter Battalion of the Indiana Army National Guard.

He served as a Platoon Leader from October 2007 to December 2009, during which time he deployed to Balad, Iraq.

Following his deployment, Chandler transferred to the New York Army National Guard and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion. He served as the human resource officer, Bravo Company Commander, and battalion operations officer between January 2010 - January 2018.

In January 2018, Chandler was assigned to Headquarters, 42d Combat Aviation Brigade where he served as the assistant operations officer.

In March 2021, Chandler was assigned in his full-time position as the New York Army National Guard Collective Training Manager.

In June 2021 Chandler took command of the 642d Aviation Support Battalion.

Chandler led the battalion through a deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve from 2023-2024. His leadership over the Battalion as it was spread across four countries led to a successful mobilization underneath the 185th ECAB.

Chandler's awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal w/ Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Senior Army Aviator Badge.

Chandler is married to Ashley Erdmann they live in Saratoga Springs and have one child, Kai Chandler (3 years old).

642nd Aviation Support Battalion

The 642nd Aviation Support Battalion provides provide aviation maintenance and logistical support to Army helicopter units. The battalion has elements at McArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma on Long Island, as well as at armories in Dunkirk and Fort Hamilton in addition to the headquarters at the Army National Guard flight facility in Rochester.

Formerly known as the 642nd Division Aviation Support Battalion, Soldiers of the 642nd deployed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City and served in Iraq as part of the 42nd Infantry Division Aviation Brigade deployment in 2004/05.

The battalion mobilized and departed New York in September of 2013 and provided aviation support for U.S. military forces deployed in Kuwait since December 2013 as part of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade task force.

The force included some 44 aircraft and about 1,200 Active Army and Army National Guard aviation troops during their Kuwait deployment.

Most recently the battalion deployed four hundred and twenty-five Soldiers to Kuwait in 2023-2024. During the deployment, the battalion provided logistics and maintenance support to task forces underneath the 185th Combat Aviation Brigade.

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