NY Army National Guard Col. Todd Bookless, a Greenwich resident, takes command of specialized NY National Guard unit

CORTLANDT MANOR, NY (04/15/2019) — New York Army National Guard Col. Todd Bookless, a Greenwich, Connecticut resident and veteran of the Iraq War, assumed command of the 53rd Digital Liaison Detachment during a change of command ceremony held at Camp Smith Training Site here on Sunday, April 14.

The 53rd Digital Liaison Detachment consists of officers and non-commissioned officers who are trained to help United States commanders at the three-star general and four-star general command levels coordinate with coalition partner military forces.

The 53rd Digital Liaison Detachment traces its history back to the New York National Guard's famous 7th Regiment.

Bookless who formerly commanded the 642nd Aviation Maintenance Battalion in Rochester, will be replacing Col. Patrick Macklin, a Wantagh, N.Y. resident, who is a retired New York City police officer.

Bookless graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1994 and served in the Active Army in helicopter units before joining the New York Army National Guard in 2002.

Bookless deployed to Iraq with the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade and the 42nd Infantry Division in 2005. In 2011-2012 he deployed to Kuwait with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and in 2015-2016 he led a team from the 42nd Infantry Division which deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to assist in running detention operations there.

Bookless has served in a variety of positions to include helicopter platoon leader, assistant division operations officer, helicopter cavalry troop commander, brigade logistics officer, airspace manager and comptroller for the 42nd Infantry Division in Iraq, Military Engagement Team Executive Officer conducting military engagements in Iraq and Jordan, and deputy director of joint task force operations in Guantanamo Bay.

He is a graduate of the NATOR Reserve Forces Integration Course, the Army Command and General Staff College and Advanced Operations Warfighting Course, and is currently enrolled in the Army War College.

Bookless graduated with a degree in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Army Aviator Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge.

In civilian life Bookless is a Vice President at NatWest Markets Securities Inc. He and his wife Meredith have a daughter; Emma.

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