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Clifton Park resident turns over command of National Guard's Joint Forces Headquarters, headquarters detachment

Major Douglas Berinstein hands over command of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment to Capt. Darren Hagan from New Windsor.

Latham, NY (09/28/2023) — New York Army National Guard Capt. Darren Hagan, a New Windsor resident, took command of the Latham-based unit responsible for the Soldiers assigned to the New York National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters during a Wednesday, Sept. 27 ceremony.

Hagan, a veteran of overseas service in Iraq and Kuwait, took command of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, which provides administrative and logistical support to over 320 Army Guard personnel who staff the headquarters of the 16,300 strong New York National Guard in Latham, New York.

He replaces Maj. Douglas Berinstein, a Clifton Park resident, who led the detachment for the past two years. Berinstein, a full-time civilian attorney with the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, will now become the operations officer of the 104th Military Police Battalion.

Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, praised Berinstein for his service in the role since 2021.

"Doug has done an exceptional job as the Headquarters Detachment Commander, "he said.

The commander is responsible for everything the Soldiers do and everything they do not do, he said. Command is normally limited to two to three years because of the stress of the job, Shields said.

"Command is one of the hardest positions an officer can hold," Shields said.

In his remarks, Berinstein praised the headquarters detachment staff for their dedication and hard work.

"Over the past two years, you have accomplished amazing things and I am repeatedly impressed," he said.

Shields told Hagan that he was the right officer to take over the command.

"We have trust and confidence in you," he told Hagan, and charged him to remember to stay focused on taking care of people.

The Headquarters Detachment ensures the officers and men of the headquarters unit meet their training objectives, are physically fit, medically ready, and get the military education they need to discharge their duties.

Berinstein, who enlisted in the New York Army National guard as an artilleryman in 2006, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his efforts as detachment commander.

This was his second award of the Meritorious Service Medal. He has also received the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

Berenstein was commissioned as an officer in 2009. He has served as a Military Police platoon leader, a Military Police battalion assistant operations officer and supply officer, and Camp Smith executive officer.

In 2017 he deployed to Guantanamo Bay as 104th Military Police Battalion assistant operations officer.

Berinstein is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, and both the Military Police and Logistics captains career courses.

Berinstein holds a law degree from Albany Law School and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from New England College.

Media Attachments

New York Army National Guard Major Douglas Berinstein, the outgoing commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of Joint Forces Headquarters,receives a Meritorious Service Medal from Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York during change of command ceremonies at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, New York on Sept. 27, 2023. U.S. Army National Guard photo by William Albrecht.

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