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Local man becomes commander of LA Guard training battalion

Posted at 4:23 PM, Jan 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-17 17:23:56-05

The Louisiana National Guard has a new commander of their training battalion.

Lt. Col. Katrina Lloyd, of Alexandria, relinquished command of 2nd Battalion, 199th Regiment to Lt. Col. Jacques Comeaux, of New Iberia, during an official ceremony at Camp Beauregard in Pineville on January 13.

“I am deeply appreciative of the support of so many key leaders and officials from throughout the LANG,” said Lloyd. “I am thankful to all whom have helped me succeed along this journey.”

Lloyd, a 32-year veteran, enlisted in the LANG as a combat medic in 1986. She received a direct commission to second lieutenant in 1996 after serving 10 years as an enlisted Soldier.

Louisiana National Guardsmen with 2nd Battalion, 199th Regiment present the colors during an official change of command ceremony at Camp Beauregard in Pineville, Louisiana, Jan. 13, 2019. During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Jacques Comeaux, of New Iberia, Louisiana, assumed command from Lt. Col. Katrina Lloyd, of Alexandria, Louisiana. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Noshoba Davis)

Comeaux, her successor, enlisted in the LANG as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle mechanic in 1996. He was commissioned a second lieutenant through the LANG’s Officer Candidate School in 2002.

Comeaux earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Masters of Business Administration from Southeastern Louisiana University. He has served in a variety of command and staff assignments from the platoon to brigade levels, including platoon leader, assistant operations officer and executive officer.“

Having come through these halls in 2002 and come back in this capacity is a great honor,” said Comeaux. “I take it very seriously and with great pride. I look forward to working with Col. Cerniauskas and everybody else in the regiment.”

Some of Comeaux’s awards and decorations include the Master Aviator’s Badge, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

Comeaux and his wife, Elsa, have a daughter, Andressa, and son, Emilio.