Montana Army National Guard to hold change of command ceremony

Press release

HELENA — The Montana Army National Guard will conduct a change of command ceremony Saturday, May 5, as Brig. Gen. Robert Sparing relinquishes command to Col. Donald Emerson. The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at the Helena Armed Forces Reserve Center parade field on Fort Harrison. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

Sparing enlisted in the Montana Army National Guard in 1975, rising to the enlisted rank of staff sergeant. In 1984, he was selected as the honor graduate from the Montana Military Academy and received a commission as a second lieutenant. He culminates his career May 5 as a brigadier general and commander of the Montana Army National Guard. Sparing will retire following the ceremony that will honor his 43 years of dedicated and exceptional military service to the country, state, United States Army and the Montana Army National Guard.

Emerson joined the Montana Army National Guard in 1987 and was commissioned through University of Montana ROTC program in 1989. He is currently assigned as the chief of staff for the Montana Army National Guard. Prior to his assignment at the MTNG Joint Force Headquarters Emerson commanded the 1889th Regional Support Group in Butte providing command and control of four subordinate battalions and all line companies across the State of Montana. Emerson has 30 years of military service and has served in several key traditional and full time-assignments for the Montana Army National Guard.