Headquarters Battalion commander reflects on three years at Belvoir

After three years as commander of Headquarters Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Lt. Col. Kevin McKenna will be moving on to another duty station Friday after a change of command ceremony.

McKenna will be moving just up the road to the Pentagon to be the executive officer for the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, Craig College.

McKenna noted that his time here at Belvoir has allowed him to learn and prepare for the next phase of his career.

"I have really learned a lot about installation management here at Belvoir, which I had not realized there is a method to the madness and there are eyes behind the great screen called the garrison," McKenna said. "There are a lot of great people doing a lot of great work here."

McKenna said he will most miss those he worked with daily.

"I am going to miss the Soldiers and civilians I worked with here at Belvoir," McKenna said. "All the employees of the Eagle Team or as I like to call it, the Eagle family, and also from each of the directorates."

The feeling was mutual between his Soldiers and officers he led every day.

"The Army always talks about family and [Lt. Col.] McKenna really lives by that," Headquarters Battalion S-1 Annie Powell said. "He cares so much about the family and you really don't find too many people like that. So, we are going to really miss him."

Headquarters Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Allison Smith flew back from her deployment in Iraq for McKenna's change of command and gave her thoughts about what it is like to work with McKenna.
"We are both really alike and I am going to really miss him," Smith said. "He is like a boss, but he is a brother at the same time."

Edward Milligan, the battalion executive officer, reiterated McKenna's family demeanor and personality that fuel his success as a leader.

"He is a very articulate and he communicates his intent and guidance very well. That is important for me because I have to funnel that guidance to the staff and he makes that very easy," Milligan said. "He is very even-tempered and handles everything with a sense of calmness. That is so great for a leader of this magnitude.

"He is a very caring and family-oriented person and his ability to manage his tremendous responsibility to the military, but also raise a family, is most impressive," Milligan said. "He has done an excellent job of balancing family with the mission and it has been a pleasure to work for him."

McKenna, a native of Pawtucket, R.I., began his Army career in the Maryland National Guard with the 29th Infantry Division. Upon his graduation from Frostburg State, he was placed on active duty and relocated to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky.

During his career, McKenna has been stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., with the 82nd Airborne Division and in Friedberg, Germany. He was also stationed twice at the Human Resources Command, the last of which was his duty station before being assigned to Belvoir.

McKenna said he will remember Belvoir through the accomplishments of the battalion while he was in command, as well as the accomplishments in his personal life.

"There are two different categories for me, personal and professional. I had two of my children graduate from high school since I have been in command, so, that is significant," McKenna said. "Professionally, I just reached my 20th year as a Soldier and I enjoy some of the programs we have developed and pursued at the Soldier level, specifically the combatives program for the Military District of Washington."

"Fort Belvoir is a very unique place with the different tenant organizations and how close we are to the National Capital Region. It is kind of neat to see the VIPs that roll in here to utilize some personal business on the weekends and professional business throughout the week," McKenna said. "It is nice to know that our senior executives and general officers view this place as a secure environment they can come to and unwind.

"It is a good feeling and the Soldiers and civilians need to take that into consideration as they do their day-to-day tasks," McKenna said.