Louisiana National Guard’s 61st Troop Command Holds Change of Command and Responsibility Ceremony

By Staff Sgt. David C. Kirtland, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard’s 61st Troop Command welcomed its new command team during an official change of command and responsibility ceremony at the Price LeBlanc PACE Center in Gonzales, Louisiana, July 13, 2025.

 

Col. Stuart M. West, the incoming commander of the 61st TC, assumed command from Col. Joseph M. Barnett, the outgoing commander of the 61st TC, during a formal passing of the unit colors, symbolizing the transfer of authority and responsibility. At the same ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick L. Sandel Jr., the incoming senior enlisted leader of the 61st TC, assumed responsibility from Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan D. Chapman, the outgoing senior enlisted leader of the 61st TC.

 

“To Col. Barnett, job well done. You continue to build combat readiness, which is my number one priority, and that is evidenced by the things you did,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Friloux, the adjutant general of Louisiana. “To Col. West, welcome to command. You are prepared for it. You’ve done all the right things.”

 

The time-honored ceremony—rooted in military tradition since Roman times—emphasizes the continuity of leadership and the unit’s identity, even as command changes hands. The exchange of the unit’s colors between outgoing and incoming commanders and command sergeants major is a visible reminder of the Army’s enduring values of professionalism, accountability and readiness.

 

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Col. Barnett for his exceptional leadership and dedication to this command,” said West. “As we move forward, my vision is to build upon the outstanding legacy of excellence, leveraging the unique capabilities of our units to enhance our mission focus on homeland defense and security, disaster response and emergency management, supporting civil authorities, defending our critical infrastructure and networks from cyber threats, training and readiness.”

 

Barnett, who has led the unit since September 2022, moves on to command the LANG Recruiting and Retention Battalion. His distinguished career spans nearly three decades of service, including deployments to Iraq and leadership roles in several key LANG units. A recipient of numerous awards, including the Bronze Star Medal and Louisiana Cross of Merit, Barnett is a decorated combat veteran and a respected leader in both his military career as well as his civilian career as a pharmaceutical sales manager.

 

“As I look back at my time in the 61st, my mind will flood with all that we accomplished together,” said Barnett. “To Col. West and Command Sgt. Maj. Sandel, you are inheriting a competent, committed, technically and tactically proficient unit. I know you both will do great things.”

 

West, who now assumes command, brings a wealth of experience from across the Louisiana and Mississippi National Guards’. His career includes key assignments in infantry, recruiting and strategic operations, as well as deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He holds multiple advanced degrees and has been recognized with a long list of state and federal awards, including two Bronze Star Medals. West also currently serves as an operations officer for the Gillis W. Long Center in Carville, Louisiana.

 

Chapman, whose tenure as senior enlisted leader for the 61st was marked by commitment to readiness and Soldier welfare, continues his service as the senior enlisted advisor for the 139th Regional Support Group and as the LANG State Marksmanship Coordinator. A combat veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and a member of the Louisiana State Police, Chapman’s legacy includes decades of dedicated service and a wide array of state and federal decorations.

 

Sandel, a veteran of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, brings more than three decades of experience and a reputation for excellence in leadership as the new senior enlisted leader. A graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, he previously served as the senior enlisted leader of several key LANG units, including the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the 139th Regional Support Group.

 

The 61st Troop Command, headquartered at the Gillis W. Long Center in Carville, Louisiana, provides command and control capabilities across multiple specialized units. These include the 62nd Civil Support Team, the 178th Cyber Protection Team, the 239th Military Police Company, the 241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment and several judge advocate and chemical response elements. The unit plays a critical role in homeland defense, disaster response and defense support to civil authorities, including its CERFP (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High-Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package) mission.

 

Established in 1985 and renamed in 1994, the 61st Troop Command continues its mission under the motto: “Protect and Defend.”