NY Army National Guard Major Matthew Williams, a Ballston Spa resident, now commands 53rd Troop Command Headquarters Detachment
Camp Smith Training Site, New York (11/09/2026) — New York Army National Guard Maj. Matthew Williams, a Ballston Spa resident, assumed command of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the53rd Troop Command during an Oct. 2026,2026 ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site, near Peekskill.
Williams replaced Maj. James Jean-Baptiste, who had led the detachment since 2022.
The 53rd Troop command oversees 5,000 Soldiers located across New York. The Headquarters Detachment includes the 53rd 's commander and the Soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers who support the command.
The detachment prepares units for federal overseas deployments and coordinates National Guard disaster response and homeland security operations across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.
During the ceremony the detachment's guidon, or colors, was transferred from Jean-Baptiste to Williams.
Lt. Col. Justin Couts, the chief of staff of the 53rd Troop Command, said that Williams was the right person for the position and would lead the headquarters detachment in the right direction.
In his remarks, Williams promised that he would " not take this responsibility lightly."
He was proud to be part of the 53rd Troop Command, Williams told the headquarters detachment Soldiers.
"It is my honor to stand in your ranks and join your team," Williams said. "I look forward to training, working, and learning alongside you."
Williams enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 2011 and subsequently earned his commission as an officer in the Chemical Corps through Federal Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Shortly after becoming a lieutenant, Williams deployed to Kuwait in December of 2013 with the 42nd Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade.
He deployed again in 2017 to Ukraine in support of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine mission. In 2018 he joined the 42nd Infantry Division as the Division Force Management Officer.
His most recent deployment in 2025 was with the 42nd Infantry Division in Kuwait. The division headquarters initially deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield, the U.S. Army commitment in the region. The headquarters commanded Task Force Spartan, the Army's 10,000-Soldier force in the Middle East.
In February 2026 the division headquarters shifted into war fighting mode in support of Operation Epic Fury, the conflict with Iran.
Williams has earned numerous awards and ribbons, with the highest being the Bronze Star Medal.
Williams graduated from State University of New York at Plattsburgh with a bachelor's degree in environmental science.
He works as the Occupational Safety and Health Specialist for the New York Army National Guard overseeing health and safety issues across all facilities.
He and his wife Jaime have two children.
Media Attachments
Maj. Matthew Williams, a Ballston Spa resident and the commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the 53rd Troop Command speaks to Soldiers, family and friends during a ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site, near Peekskill, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., Oct. 25, 2026.
New York National Guard
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