Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Roth, a resident of Boerum Hill and a veteran of deployments to Kuwait and Jordan, has taken command of the New York Army National Guard’s only field artillery battalion.
The 258th Field Artillery is headquartered at the Jamaica Armory in Queens and has elements in the Bronx, Harlem, and New Windsor.
The traditional change of command ceremony involved Roth accepting the Battalion’s flag from the commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
“We will build upon the past successes of this battalion, redouble our efforts to strengthen the artillery, and grow leaders for the future of the field artillery, which today has an unparalleled opportunity for impact and career growth,” Roth said.
While assigned to the Michigan Army National Guard, Roth deployed with the Multinational Force and Observers, a peacekeeping force established in 1981 as part of a treaty between Israel and Egypt. He served as the deputy officer in charge at a training center in Jordan.
In civilian life, Roth is the deputy commissioner of the New York City Department of Veterans Services. He is currently on leave from his civilian job serving on duty supporting special projects for the New York National Guard.
Roth holds a Masters of Public Policy and Urban Planning from the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University.
He is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and is enrolled in the Army War College.
His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Multinational Force, Observers Medal, and the German Armed forces Forces Proficiency Badge.
“Much is expected of those of us who choose to raise our hand and serve in today’s military, particularly as citizen soldiers,” Roth said. “It is demanding, and it requires flexibility and commitment.”