Lt. Col. Beegles takes over in Sunday ceremony

“I never imagined myself here,” Lt. Col. Barbara J. Beegles said Sunday, shortly after assuming command of the 749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion of the California Army National Guard.

In a ceremony at the Benicia Armory, Beegles praised her predecessor, Lt. Col. Donna A. McDermott, who commanded the CSSB for the past two years and who will become deputy chief of staff of the Army National Guard ROTC in Fort Knox, Ky.

McDermott succeeded Col. David Ceniti, who commanded the battalion during its first deployment to a war zone in its history. Sent to Iraq, the battalion was instrumental in — and set records for — moving equipment during Operation New Dawn.

Ceniti, who now commands the 224th Sustainment Brigade, participated in Sunday’s ceremony. He told the Benicia-based battalion, “Your deeds are known throughout the brigade,” and gave his own praise of the leadership capabilities of both the outgoing and incoming commanders.

Under McDermott, the 749th transitioned away from its role in a foreign conflict to support of domestic emergencies, particularly California’s wildfires, for which the battalion could be mobilized more quickly than required.

Ceniti called Beegles “a formidable officer,” and said, “I’m confident you will do great and wonderful things.”

McDermott said she knew her stay in Benicia would pass quickly, and that the soldiers accomplished a lot, though most spend just one weekend a month and two weeks each summer with the battalion.

She said the solders were able to increase their overall readiness, and that “by leaps and bounds, we’ve done things together.”

She reminded them that in areas where they have become number one, “to work hard and not be complacent.”

In addition to other battalion staff members, she thanked soldiers’ relatives. “We can’t lose sight of families who support us.” She acknowledged the hardships families experience when solders are away, missing birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions.

McDermott acknowledged support from the Benicia community, particularly Benicia Fire and Police departments, the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and other organizations that remember that soldiers are away from home, as well as the local Boy Scouts and volunteers who participated in an armory beautification project shortly after she arrived.

“Command for me has been the most incredible experience,” McDermott said. “I’m sad to be leaving.”

Beegles kept her address short, telling the soldiers, “The only thing standing between you and lunch is my speech!”

She also joked that she and McDermott may be the shortest lieutenant commanders, showing that she may continue the battalion’s history of facing challenging situations with humor. She said she learned that approach when she saw different units of the 749th train together in 125-degree heat.

No soldier complained about the temperature, she said. Instead, they showed the rest how to do the job and still have fun.

But Beegles acknowledged another quality she and McDermott share. “We’re probably the feistiest, also,” she added.

“It’s an honor and privilege to serve with you,” she told the soldiers under her command. “It will be a challenging and rewarding year.”

Beegles called her new assignment “a tremendous responsibility,” and said she expects to continue having the battalion “provide support to the community, and vice versa.”