New York Army National Guard Colonel, West Valley native, West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran Bradley Frank took command of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Flynn took over earlier this month from Colonel Sean Flynn, who has led the brigade since July 2021. Flynn has been promoted to one-star general and is currently serving in the U.S. European Command.
Major General Thomas Spencer, commander of the 42nd Infantry Division of the New York Guard, to which the 27th Infantry Brigade belongs, said at a change of command ceremony in New York State that Frank was tasked with commanding the 4,600 men of the 27th Infantry Brigade. I applaud you for doing it. Headquarters of the New York Guard in Latham.
“Colonel Frank, you are the right person for the job,” said Spencer. “It has been a busy time so far, and it will continue to be busy.
Major General Ray Shields of the New York National Guard said Frank was taking on “a heavy task and a heavy responsibility.”
Frank acknowledged the merits of the brigade and its men, and the task at hand.
“Thank you for trusting me to lead this wonderful organization,” Frank said. “This is an honor for me and not something to take lightly. It is a very humbling task to command a combat formation during such difficult times. Know that you will do your best.”
In his private career, Frank is the Program Manager for New York’s Energy Research and Development Agency on the West Valley Demonstration Project.
The 27th Brigade, headquartered in Syracuse, is a light infantry brigade consisting of three infantry battalions, a cavalry company, an artillery battalion, a brigade engineer battalion, and a support battalion. The brigade’s components span New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
The brigade has deployed to Afghanistan and Kuwait and has sent troops to help train Ukrainian forces twice, in 2017 and more recently in 2022.
After attending the West Point Military Academy, Frank was commissioned as a second lieutenant. After graduating from the Armored Officer Basic Course, he served in the 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment as a tank platoon commander, a mortar platoon commander, a tank company officer, and an operations officer.
During this time, he was sent twice to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Upon completion of active duty, Frank enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Army National Guard as the Operations Assistant for the 28th Division’s 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He then transferred to the New York State Army National Guard and commanded Unit B, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, 27th Cavalry Regiment.
As a Major, he held several posts on the Army Staff. After he served two years with the Pentagon, he returned to New York and was appointed the Operations Officer at the 153rd Division Headquarters in Buffalo.
In April 2017, he volunteered as a liaison officer with the 10th Mountain Division’s newly created Main Command Post Operations Detachment and was mobilized to support Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq. While there, Frank served as deputy director of the Security Sector Reform Group at the US Embassy in Baghdad. In this role, he was responsible for reforming Iraq’s security sector by facilitating relations between the Iraqi government and her many international partners, including NATO and the United Nations.
After his recent deployment to Iraq, Frank led the 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment at Niagara Falls. Under his command, the squadron was mobilized to support New York State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then to provide security within the metropolitan area in the wake of the events of January 6, 2021. was mobilized to
He graduated from the Cavalry Leadership Course, the Command and Staff College, and the Defense Strategy Course. Frank holds a Bachelor’s degree in West He points, St. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Bonaventure College and a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
His accolades include the Bronze Star Medal (2nd), National Defense Merit Medal, Distinguished Service Medal (2nd), and numerous other federal, state and foreign awards and decorations.
