Photo By Lt. Col. William Wratee | Sandy Hagenbeck[left] and Major General Kris Belanger [right], Special Assistant to...... read more read more
Hoover — On June 4, 2022, the Army promoted U.S. Army Reserve Col. Kelly Hagenbeck to brigadier general during a ceremony held at the Horace B. Hanson Jr. Army Reserve Center in Hoover, Alabama.
With the promotion, Hagenbeck will take command of the 87th Training Division, which designs, develops, and executes Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training exercises for Army Reserve Units.
Hagenbeck credits his military success to the people he has worked with over the years - civilian and military. “I have been able to work with great army leaders, but I have had equally great people to work with at my civilian job.”
A Florida native, Hagenbeck graduated from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida in 1992. He was commissioned through Reserve Officer Training Program as a Transportation Officer. Hagenbeck has maintained his affiliation with the U.S. Army Reserve for over 30 years, serving in various command positions from commander of the 505th Transportation Detachment in Gainesville, Florida to commander of the 518th Sustainment Brigade in Knightdale, North Carolina. Most recently, Hagenbeck served as the Deputy Commander of the 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command in San Antonio, Texas.
In his civilian career, Hagenbeck works for the Division of Risk Management, at the Florida Department of Financial Services. “My employer has been “extremely supportive of my Army career over the last 28 years,” says Hagenbeck. “I could not have achieved this level of success in my military career without the support and encouragement of the Florida Division of Risk Management team.”
Major General Kris Belanger, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, served as the senior officer at the promotion ceremony. She praised Hagenbeck for years of service and described him as a “walking testimony of what hard work and sacrifice can produce.” Belanger went on to say “I have no doubt you will thrive in the unpredictability that relies on tremendous flexible.”
After the Belanger’s introductory remarks, the room was called to attention, and Hagenbeck’s promotion orders were read. Hagenbeck’s wife, Sandy, joined him on stage and, along with Belanger, placed the single star epaulets on the shoulders of Hagenbeck's Army Service Uniform.
Following the oath of office, confirming his new rank, Hagenbeck’s family presented him with his general officer's accouterments. Hagenbeck’s parents presented him with his general officer cap and general officer belt. His son presented him with his M18 General Officer's pistol. The new general's daughter, joined him to uncase and unfurl his crimson one-star flag.
Following the presentation of his general officer's accouterments Brig. Gen. Kelly Hagenbeck spoke to a crowd of friends, family, and service members.
During his remarks, Hagenbeck thanked his wife, Sandy, for being “my greatest champion during my career in the Army.” He went on to say that “without my family’s support and encouragement, I would not have been able to achieve whatever level of success I have in the Army or life.” Hagenbeck meet his wife while he was enrolled at Florida State.
Recalling his upbringing, Hagenbeck spoke to his mom, dad, and sister sitting in the audience.
Hagenbeck credited his father with setting a solid foundation and thanked him for his service to the nation. Hagenbeck’s father Lieutenant General (Retired) Franklin Lee Hagenbeck, served over 39 years culminating as the 57th Superintendent of the U. S. Military Academy.
Hagenbeck went on to thank his mother and sister. “You have been strong female role models and your love and understanding have allowed me to become the man I am today.”
After the ceremony, in his first official act as commander of the 87th Training Division Hagenbeck presented a “Golden Acorn” challenge coin to his Florida Department of Financial Services civilian supervisor, who was present at the ceremony, thanking him and the organization for its support of the nation and Army Reserve Soldiers like him.
“I’ve been fortunate in that the values [in my civilian career and the military] are the same – honor, integrity, trust, duty. I think the two organizations I work for and their values have served me well, and I hope I’ve done the same for them.”
| Date Taken: | 06.04.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 06.11.2022 16:48 |
| Story ID: | 422537 |
| Location: | HOOVER, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 198 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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