I wasn't able to take any pictures at the Change of Command or during the week because it was so ridiculously busy. We had been planning for this since pretty much the day I arrived and I knew even before I got here that this would be the biggest thing I would ever work on. And it certainly was.
I have more photos that the official photographers posted, but Ill have to post them later. To read an article about the ceremony, check out the link.
Anyway, our responsibilities were much greater than just the change of command ceremony itself, actually that was pretty much the easy part. Our trip planners had to manage the travel, lodging, logistics, and itineraries of the Vice President, the US Ambassador to Iraq, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the US CENTCOM Commander, and two 4 star generals and their staffs. Each of the DVs had meetings and meals with top Iraqi military and political leaders and with each other. My team was responsbile for General Odierno's award presentation, an awards ceremony for about 20 individuals, General Austin's promotion ceremony, the Change of Command ceremony... and all of that was on one day. We also had a Senior Leader Conference the next morning with 55 senior leaders from USF-I and the US Embassy in Baghdad. Needless to say, we were not without things to do.
Natalie and Blake around 11pm the night before the Change of Command folding programs that had to be re-pritned because the outside printer messed up the first batch. 600 in English, 200 in Arabic, no problem. They were our heroes!
MSgt Bridges printing seat tags for the hundreds of DVs that were attending that had reserved seats.
MSgt Bridges asleep on.... oh no, thumbtacks! Someone wake her up, quick! Sorry, it was late and everything is funnier here. But we are awesome, and we made it!
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