JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
The newest commander of the 470th Military Intelligence Brigade, Col. Daniel Allen, took the helm of the brigade at a change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston July 9.
Allen assumed command of the 470th MI Brigade by accepting the brigade’s guidon from outgoing commander Col. Ingrid Parker and Maj. Gen. Gary Johnston, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, or INSCOM, commanding general and presiding officer of the ceremony, at MacArthur Parade Field. The 470th MI Brigade is a subordinate command of INSCOM.
Before taking command of the brigade, Allen served as the deputy director of intelligence at the North American Aerospace Command and U.S. Northern Command Headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He has been deployed in several locations around the world, including Saudi Arabia, Iraqi, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
In his first remarks as 470th MI Brigade commander, Allen lauded the work done by Parker in her two years as commander. He thanked the Parker for a great transition.
“You’ve done amazing things with the brigade and I know I have big shoes to fill,” Allen said, addressing Parker. “I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.”
Allen, a 30-year Army service member, thanked all the Soldiers, service members and civilians he has served with during his career and his wife, Jessica. The couple met and got married in San Antonio 20 years ago, when Allen was 314th Military Intelligence Battalion A Company commander at the Medina Base Annex, now JBSA-Lackland Annex.
The new commander said he is looking forward to being back in San Antonio and in the state he grew up in. Allen was raised in the South Texas town of La Feria, located 258 miles south of San Antonio in the Rio Grande Valley.
“To the greater San Antonio community, this South Texas boy is excited to be home,” Allen said. “I look forward to reconnecting with this spectacular community.”
Allen said he is thrilled to join an intelligence brigade that has established a good reputation as he takes command over it.
“Finally to the Soldiers, non-commissioned officers, warrant officers, officers and civilians of the 470th MI Brigade, your reputation precedes you and it’s fantastic,” he said. “Your accomplishments are well-documented and I’m honored and humbled to join your team. I look forward to what you will accomplish in the coming years.”
Parker thanked the members of the intelligence brigade who worked and supported her during her tenure as commander.
“It has been a great pleasure working with you all,” Parker said. “I have truly enjoyed my time with you in the 470th Military Intelligence Brigade and will miss the team. It has been my honor to be your commander and a fellow Soldier.”
Parker wished Allen and his wife, Jessica, the best and said that Allen’s experience at the Army command level will be helpful to the intelligence brigade going forward.
“I look forward to hearing all the things that you and the team achieve,” she said.
Parker is leaving the 470th MI Brigade for her next duty assignment, working in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, or ODNI, in Washington, D.C., for Lt. Gen. Karen Gibson, ODNI deputy director of national intelligence for national security partnerships.
Allen and his wife, Jessica, inspected the brigade’s troops in the traditional pass and review ceremony at the end of the event.
Headquartered at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, the 470th MI Brigade includes 1,100 Soldiers and is composed of five units who help provide multi-disciplined intelligence support for U.S. Army South and U.S. Southern Command and intelligence operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. In addition, the 470th MI Brigade provides counter-intelligence support and force protection for counterintelligence missions throughout the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.