Lt. Col. Steven W. Denney will take command of the Kansas National Guard’s 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137thInfantry Regiment during a change of command ceremony on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Kansas Regional Training Institute, Building 365, 2929 Scanlan Ave., Salina, Kan.
During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Robert A. Wood will turn over command to Denney. The 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry is headquartered in Kansas City with subordinate units located in Emporia, Junction City, Lawrence, Lenexa, Manhattan, Topeka and Wichita.
“I am honored and excited to be taking command of the 2-137th Combined Arms Battalion,” said Denney. “I have served in this organization in a variety of positions and look forward to getting back to my family of soldiers.”
“I am honored to have had the opportunity to lead and to serve with such an outstanding group of dedicated professionals,” said Wood. “It is my honor to hand over this proud battalion to a friend and colleague.”
Lt. Col. Steven W. Denney was commissioned in the Kansas Army National Guard in July 1993 as an infantry officer. Most recently, Denney served as the State Training Officer, Joint Forces Headquarters Kansas-Land Component.
Denney’s past assignments include infantry platoon leader, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry; mortar platoon leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry; executive officer, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry; company commander, Company C, Company B and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry; battalion personnel officer, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry; battalion executive officer, 1st Battalion, 635th Armor; executive officer 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry; mobilization planner, Joint Forces Headquarters Kansas; and Mobilization and Readiness officer, Joint Forces Headquarters Kansas.
His deployments include Operation Enduring Freedom force protection mission in Germany with the 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry and Operation Iraqi Freedom with 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry.Denney earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration at Fort Hays State University.
He is also a graduate of the resident Army Command and General Staff Officer’s College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Combined Arms Services and Staff School, Infantry Officer Advanced Course; Infantry Officer Basic Course and Primary Leaders Development Course.
His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Ribbon, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Iraqi Campaign Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Parachute Badge and Pathfinder Badge.
Denney is engaged to Marci Solander of Topeka, Kan.
Lt. Col. Robert A. Wood was commissioned in the Kansas Army National Guard in June 1994 as an armor officer. Most recently, Wood served as the logistics officer for the 635th Regional Support Group, Hutchinson.
Wood’s past assignments include platoon leader and executive officer, Company A, 1st Battalion, 635th Armor; battalion personnel officer, 635th Armor; company commander, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 137 Infantry; plans officer, 35th Infantry Division; operations training officer/officer strength manager, Recruiting and Retention Battalion; battalion executive officer, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment; commander, Embedded Training Team #4 (Operation Enduring Freedom); and brigade logistics officer, 635th Regional Support Group.
He currently serves as the brigade training officer for 69th Troop Command. His deployments include Desert Shield/Desert Storm with the 1st Infantry Division, Operation Enduring Freedom Force Protection Mission in Germany with 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry and Operation Enduring Freedom Embedded Training Team Mission to Afghanistan.
Wood earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology at Kansas State University and a master’s degree in business management at North Central University. He is also a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Combined Armed Services and Staff School; Armor Officer Advanced Course; Armor Officer Basic Course and Primary Leaders Development Course.
He has also completed the Reserve Component Tank Commander’s Course, M1A1 new equipment field training and M2 Bradley new equipment field training.His military awards includes the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Parachute Badge and Combat Infantryman Badge.Wood is married to the former Amy Marie Zimmerman of Wichita, Kan.
