FORT RILEY, Kansas - U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Monté L. Rone, commander of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, presided over a Victory with Honors Ceremony in which Col. Matthew J. Hardman and Col. Travis M. Habhab accepted their new positions at Fort Riley, Kansas, Sep. 20.
Hardman, who formerly served as the Commander of Operations Group at the Joint Readiness Center, will serve as the deputy commanding officer of maneuver for the 1st Inf. Div., while Habhab, who recently worked in the Pentagon as the Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, will serve as the division’s chief of staff.
The ceremony recognized the pair's military achievements and new duties that brings over fifty years of combined military experience to the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley.
“From France to Iraq, this famous Division has brought excellence and courage, and I am beyond honored to be a part of it,” said Hardman. “The Fort Riley, Junction City, and Manhattan, Kansas, communities have an equally exceptional reputation, and in our short time here, we feel incredibly grateful for the reception and hospitality, thank you.”
Habhab, who graduated from Kansas State University and was commissioned into Army Aviation in May of 1998, also holds accreditations from the Aviation Officer Basic Course, the Apache and Apache Longbow Helicopter Qualification Courses, the Aviation Captains Career Course, Texas A&M’s MBA program, Command and General Staff College, the Joint Firepower Control Course, the Air Assault Course, and the United States Army War College.
Both Hardman and Habhab’s military tenure includes deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Our legacy is built on the sacrifices of those who came before us,” said Rone. “It’s our duty to uphold their honor and continue the mission with that same commitment to excellence."