DECATUR, Miss. – The 1st Battalion, 204th Air Defense Artillery Regiment of the Mississippi Army National Guard held a Change of Command and Farewell Ceremony on June 2 at Huff Auditorium, marking a momentous transition of leadership and preparing for a critical deployment.
Lt. Col Marilyn M. Upton relinquished command of the 1-204th to Lt. Col. James W. White during a formal ceremony attended by Soldiers, family members, and distinguished guests, including Assistant Adjutant General Maj. Gen. John M. Rhodes and the commander of 66th Troop Command Brig. Gen. Andrew Rendon.
Lt. Col. Upton, who led the unit through key readiness milestones, reflected on her time in command with pride.
“It has been an honor to command the Soldiers of the 1-204th… to lead, train, and prepare them for their NCR-IADS mission,” said Upton. “I leave them with these words: Lead from the front, take pride in your work, be confident and be a positive influence on others. First to Fire, Last to Leave!”
Lt. Col. White, a seasoned Air Defense Officer and veteran of multiple deployments, now assumes command at a pivotal time. The unit is preparing to mobilize in support of Operation Noble Eagle in the National Capital Region (NCR) — a mission designated by the Secretary of Defense as a “no-fail, zero-defect” operation.
“My main priority is two-fold,” said White. “First, we must ensure our Soldiers are fully trained
and prepared for the NCR mission. Second, we must support our rear detachment in planning for a potential CENTCOM rotation following the deployment. We also recognize the importance of growing our formation by recruiting and retaining Soldiers to ensure the long-term strength of the battalion.”
The ceremony also served as a farewell for Soldiers deploying to Washington, D.C., reinforcing the battalion’s enduring motto: “First to Fire, Last to Leave.”
The 1-204th ADA has a proud lineage dating back to 1942 and has played critical roles in both homeland defense and overseas operations, including support to Operation Noble Eagle, Operation New Dawn, and recent domestic crisis response missions in Mississippi.
Story by: 1st. Lt. Jarvis Mace
the unit colors to Lt. Col. Marilyn M. Upton, outgoing commander of the 1-204th, during a change of
command ceremony, June 2, 2025, at the East Central Community College Huff Auditorium in
Decatur, Miss. During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Marilyn M. Upton relinquished command of the
1-204th to Lt. Col. James W. White. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Jarvis Mace)
Regiment, holds the unit colors during a change of command ceremony, June 2, 2025, at the East
Central Community College Huff Auditorium in Decatur, Miss. During the ceremony, Lt. Col Marilyn
M. Upton relinquished command of the 1-204th to Lt. Col. James W. White. (U.S. Army National
Guard photo by 1st L. Jarvis Mace)
Regiment, passes the unit colors to Command Sgt. Maj. of the 1-204th Jon Mason, during a change
of command ceremony, June 2, 2025, at the East Central Community College Huff Auditorium in
Decatur, Miss. During the ceremony, Lt. Col Marilyn M. Upton relinquished command of the 1-204th
to Lt. Col. James W. White. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Jarvis Mace)
