CONTACT: 1st LT Richard Siracusano at Richard.siracusano1.mil@mail.mil or (631) 241-6484 (cell).

FOR RELEASE: Saturday, Nov 17, 2018

RONKONKOMA , NY (11/16/2018) (readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Capt. Brandon Reynolds, a Medford resident, will take command of Company B of the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation Regiment during change of command ceremonies at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Ronkonkoma on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Reynolds will replace Capt. Salvatore Garcia, a Smithtown resident, who has led the company since 2015.

Members of the media are invited to cover the event.

WHO: Captain Brandon Reynolds, the incoming commander, Captain Salvatore Garcia, the outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Jason Lefton, the commander of the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation, and Soldiers of B Co. 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation .

WHAT: A formal change of command ceremony in which the company guidon, or flag, is transferred from Garcia to Brandon signifying the change of authority and responsibility for the company. Traditionally this ceremony allowed the unit's Soldiers to see who they were to follow on the battlefield.

WHEN: 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018.

WHERE: Army Aviation Support Facility #1, 201 Schaefer Drive, Ronkonkoma

Reporters seeking access to this secure military facility must contact 1st LT Richard Siracusano at Richard.siracusano1.mil@mail.mil or (631) 241-6484 (cell).

Media Opportunity:

Video and still imagery of the passing of ceremony and troops in formation and the opportunity to interview the incoming and outgoing commanders.

BACKGROUND

CAPTAIN BRANDON REYNOLDS

Capt. Brandon Reynolds was commissioned through the Reserve Officers Training Corps program at Utica College in 2007.

During his college years Reynolds also served as a cadet in the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion of the United States Army Reserve and then in Headquarters Company of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade. ROTC's simultaneous membership program allows an ROTC cadet to drill with an Army Reserve or National Guard unit to gain military experience prior to commissioning.

Reynolds graduated from Army flight school at Fort Rucker Alabama in 2010 and was assigned to A Company 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter platoon Platoon Leader.

In 2012 he was selected to serve as the commander of Headquarters Company of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade. He deployed to Kuwait in 2013 and after leaving the company command position served as the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade's liaison officer with Army Central Command.

Reynolds is a full-time member of the Army National Guard who has also served as production control manager for the 642nd Maintenance Battalion and as a battalion intelligence officer and battalion maintenance officer. He works full time as the operations officer for the Army Aviation Support Facility in Ronkonkoma.

Reynolds is also qualified as a UH-60 instructor pilot.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Voluntary Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Senior Army Aviation Badge, and the Army Parachutist Badge.

CAPT. SALVATORE GARCIA

Captain Salvatore Garcia earned his commission through the ROTC program at St. John's University in 2009. In 2008 he served as a cadet in the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation through the ROTC simultaneous membership program.

He graduated from Army flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama in 2011 qualified as a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot.

Garcia has served as battalion assistant operations officer, an aviation platoon leader, and an aviation company executive officer. While serving as company commander of B Company, 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation, Garcia served as task force company commander during the battalion response to hurricanes Irma and Maria. He also served as task force commander for a rotation to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California earlier this year.

Garcia is qualified as a Pilot in Command and an Air Mission Commander. He is also a graduate of the Army's High Altitude Army Training Site (HAATS) and Captains Career Course.

Garcia's awards include the Army Aviator Badge, Army Airborne Parachutist Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Medal National Defense Service Medal, and the Puerto Rico Commendation Award.

Garcia is married to the former Valerie Sandora and they live in Smithtown, NY with their dog Bella.

In civilian life, Garcia is a police officer for the Suffolk County Police department assigned to the Aviation Section as a pilot.