FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral was presented the corps colors as he was welcomed as the next commander of the III Armored Corps during a change of command ceremony on Fort Cavazos on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
Admiral was welcomed at the III Armored Corps headquarters, beginning "a new era of leadership for the incoming commander and the unit", said the Fort Cavazos Media Center.
Admiral was promoted to lieutenant general in a ceremony before the change of command, according to Fort Cavazos.
Commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command Gen. Andrew P. Poppas bid farewell to outgoing commander Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe at the ceremony, thanking him for his leadership as he welcomed Admiral to the position.
Poppas said he has confidence in Admiral's ability to lead the III Armored Corps to new heights.
“Kevin’s a career armor officer,” Poppas said. “He’s an innovator, and he’s a proud member of the Fort Cavazos community, and I’m incredibly excited to see where he takes this formation in the years ahead.”
According to the Fort Cavazos Media Center, Admiral is taking the reins of America's only armored corps following his command of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Cavazos.
Admiral was commissioned as an armor officer from the University of Kansas in 1994, and recently led Task Force Pegasus, which operated across Poland and the Baltic States, stated Fort Cavazos.
“Having just returned from Europe and maintaining contact with 3rd Cavalry Regiment in South Korea, there’s no doubt we must maintain our focus on warfighting while taking care of our Soldiers, civilians and families each day,” Admiral said. “To my teammates across III Armored Corps, you can count on me giving 100% effort and carrying out my duties as we work together to uphold the high standards our nation and the Army expect and deserve.”
The change of command also served as the end of Bernabe's 22 months in command of the Corps.
“I am so grateful for my time with this amazing team,” Bernabe said. “I’ve been so proud to call myself a Phantom Warrior, a member of Team Cavazos and a member of this great community.”
The Fort Cavazos Media Center said under Bernabe's leadership, the corps conducted "myriad operations across the globe to include rotations to Europe, the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East."
“Sean, thank you for your leadership as a warfighting commander, as a tactical expert and as a strategic thinker,” Poppas said. “I know you’d love to stay and continue to serve this historic formation, but the Army is sending you back to Europe where we need you leading and galvanizing our allies and partners as the continent faces its largest conflict since World War II.”
Bernabe's next assignment is the deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa in Germany, said Fort Cavazos.
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