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NY Army Guard Col. Robert Stealey, a Paris resident, takes command of 53rd Digital Liaison Detachment during April 5 ceremony

Peekskill, New York (04/08/2025) — New York Army National Guard Col. Robert Stealey, a Paris resident and veteran of the Iraq War, was named commander of the New York National Guard's 53rd Digital Liaison Detachment during an April 25 ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill.

The small, highly specialized unit, made up of higher ranking officers and non-commissioned officers is designed to help foreign military forces coordinate with American Army commanders during what the military calls combined operations.

Stealey, who formerly served as the detachment's second-in-command, replaced Col. Gupreet Singh as the commander.

Brigadier General Isabel Smith, the commander of the 53rd Troop Command, praised Stealey during her remarks.

"Your depth of experience serves as a testament to your success in leading soldiers, Gen. Smith said, "They deserve your best leadership, and I am confident that you will provide it."

"I'm excited about the journey ahead and I'm honored to serve as your commander," Stealey told the members of the unit.

Stealey joined the New York Army National Guard in 1999 and was commissioned as a lieutenant in 2001 through Officer Candidate School.

He has served as an infantry platoon leader, an infantry company commander, battalion and brigade operations officer and as a battalion executive officer. He has also served as a battalion commander in the 106th Regional Training Institute, which is based at Camp Smith.

Stealey deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom II in 2003 to 2004 as a platoon leader and company executive officer assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry in Samarra, Iraq.

In 2012 he depoyed to Kuwait as part of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team's Military Engagent Team working with the Jordanian military.

In 2017-2018 Stealey served as the chief of staff and executive officer of the 27th Brigade (Forward) which was in command of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine, a NATO effort to train the Ukrainian Army.

Stealey was part of a 200-Soldier New York Army National Guard training team.

During the COVID-19 response in 2020, Stealey served as deputy incident commander at the Jacob Javitts Convention Center in New York City where a COVID-19 treatment facility and vaccination station was established.

His awards include the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Metal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Metal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Oversees Service Ribbon, and Combat Infantry Badge and (Airborne) Pathfinder Badge.

Stealey in a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Cortland College in Science Education in 1992. He earned a master's degree from Plattsburgh College in Instructional Curriculum and Assessment in 1996.

Stealey lives in with his wife Tammy in Paris.

Media Attachments

New York Army National Guard Col. Robert Sealy the commander of the 53rd Digital Liaison Detachment receives the detachment guidon from U.S Army Brig. Gen. Isabel Smith the commander of the 53rd troop command, during a change of command ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill N.Y. on April 5 2025. The change of command ceremony symbolizes the formal transfer of authority and responsibility of command from the outgoing commander to the incoming commander reinforcing the continuity of leadership within the unit. Sealy replaced Col. Gurpreet Singh. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jean Sanon)

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