Fort Sill welcomes new garrison commander

Fort Sill said farewell to its outgoing garrison commander and welcome to its new commander on Thursday.

Col. James H.B. Peay IV is leaving after more than two years as garrison commander to become a staff officer in Korea. His successor, Col. Derek R. Baird, has served as assistant commandant at the Field Artillery School since July 2023.

The garrison commander is responsible for a wide range of services — including everything from public works to human resources — and serves as a liaison to the Lawton community, including the Lawton City Council and the Lawton Board of Education.

During the ceremony, Peay was honored as a Distinguished Member of the 319th Field Artillery Regiment and presented with the Legion of Merit. His wife Heather was presented with the Army Meritorious Public Service Medal, the order of the Red Legacy and Oklahoma Governor’s Commendation Award.

William G. Kidd, director of Army Installation Command — Training, thanked the post’s soldiers and civilians and the community for their work in fielding and training soldiers for their missions.

“What you produce here is magical, and I thank you for that,” he said.

Commanding soldiers is “a tough, complex and unyielding way of life,” he said, and only the best leaders rise to commander garrisons and brigades.

“Your leadership makes all the difference,” he said.

He told Baird to remember that teamwork is key to a successful garrison command.

“Installation management is a team effort; it can’t be done solo,” he said. At the same time, the commander must realize how important his or her leadership is. A garrison has an abundance of talent, “but only one commander.”