NY National Guard's 27th Infantry, headquartered in Syracuse, gets new commander on Saturday, July 17 at Fort Drum

Media Advisory: Press must call by 10 AM this morning to get access to Saturday event

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK (07/16/2021) — Colonel Sean Flynn, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, who served in the Operation World Trade Center response to the 9/11 terror attacks, will take command of the New York Army National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during a ceremony at Fort Drum on Saturday, July 17.

Flynn will take over from Colonel Robert Charlesworth who has headed the brigade since 2019.

The 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has units across the state from Manhattan to Buffalo.

Members of the media are invited to cover the change of command ceremony.

WHO: Col. Sean Flynn, the incoming commander, Colonel Robert Charlesworth, the outgoing commander who is retiring after 28 years in the Army, Major General Robert Spencer, the commander of the 42nd Infantry Division, and Soldiers of the 27th Infantry Brigade.

WHAT: A traditional military change of command in which the flag of the 27th Brigade will be transferred from Charlesworth to Flynn by Spencer, signifying the transfer of authority for the 4,000 Soldiers of the Brigade. The ceremony was designed so the unit's Soldiers could see who they would follow into battle in the days when the unit colors followed the commander on the battlefield.

WHEN: 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 17.

Members of the press must contact Maj. Avery Schneider at 917-443-1864 no later than 10 a.m. today, Friday, July 16 if they want access to Fort Drum, to cover the event.

WHERE: Building 855, the New York National Guard Armory, on Fort Drum. Access Through the Oneida Gate of State Route 26.

Background:

Colonel Sean Flynn:

Flynn, who began his military career in the Air Force, is a full-time National Guard officer. While serving as the brigade commander, he will continue to work as the New York Army National Guard as Director of Plans, Training and Operations.

"Colonel Flynn is uniquely qualified to command the 27th Brigade with over 27 years of military experience," said Major General Thomas Spencer, commander of the 42nd Infantry Division.

Flynn joined the New York Army National Guard in 2000, where his key assignments include Platoon Leader and Company Commander in the historic 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment - the "Fighting 69th" - in New York, Executive Officer of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment in Utica, Battalion Commander of the Fighting 69th, Brigade Executive Officer of the 27th IBCT in Syracuse, and Division G-3 and Chief of Staff of the 42nd Infantry Division in Troy.

Prior to joining the Army, Flynn served in the U.S. Air Force from 1994 to 2000, with active duty assignments as a Public Affairs Officer for the 81st Training Wing in Biloxi, Mississippi and the 354th Fighter Wing in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Flynn earned his commission in 1994 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.

His major operational deployments include Operation Enduring Freedom in 2012, Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, Operation Noble Eagle in 2001, and Operation World Trade Center in 2001.

Flynn worked in New York as a financial communications and public relations consultant from 1997 to 2006 before becoming a full-time military officer.

Flynn is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advance Courses, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Department of Defense's Joint Public Affairs Officers Course.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland at College Park and a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal with one Bronze Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with One Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Aperture and Silver Hourglass, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with "3" device, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.

Flynn is the author of The Fighting 69th: From Ground Zero to Baghdad (Viking 2008), a narrative non-fiction account about the evolution of the National Guard from a strategic reserve to an operational force in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001.

He resides in Albany, N.Y. with his wife Lori Ann and their two children.

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