National Guard division has new commander

The Indiana National Guard’s 38th Infantry Division has a new leader with Brig. Gen. Joe Gardner accepting the command during a change of command ceremony Saturday at the Indiana War Memorial.

Prior to Gardner’s new role, he served as the deputy commanding general in charge of maneuver and of sustainment. He held those positions during the unit’s deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield November of last year to this July.

Gardner took over command from Maj. Gen. Dan Degelow and in his speech Gardner praised Degelow’s leadership, saying “Thank you for showing me what right looks like.”

The Cyclone Division was first formed on Aug. 25, 1917, at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. It is now based in Indianapolis and has subordinate units through Indiana and neighboring states. It is one of eight Army National Guard divisions.