After 31 years in the Army, outgoing 3rd Sustainment Brigade Commander Col. Shawn Morrissey thanked his troops Tuesday for serving in several theaters simultaneously and making their roles as sustainers and providers look effortless. Morrissey was warmly bid farewell during a change-of-command ceremony on Fort Stewart’s Cottrell Field.

Morrissey took command of the brigade on Aug. 27, 2008, according to Fort Stewart public affairs. He is retiring from military service.

Incoming Commander Col. Joseph Novack Jr., dubbed a “world-class logistician” by 3rd Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Abe Abrams, is coming to Fort Stewart from Fort McNair in Washington, D.C., where he recently graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University.

Morrissey said he was proud of his diverse brigade, each unit offering unique skills to sustain troops in numerous missions around the world.

The brigade provides logistical services such as postal service, finance, transportation and human resources in addition to providing and maintaining supplies and equipment during deployments.

Morrissey and his troops deployed for the fourth time to Iraq in April 2010, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The brigade then helped prepare for the drawdown during Operation New Dawn. The 3rd Sustainment Brigade also has troops deployed to Kuwait and Afghanistan.

Abrams praised Morrissey and his troops, calling them the “real life blood” of the Army. The sustainment brigade did the work of three brigades during massive drawdown efforts in northern Iraq, he said.

Novack told reporters after the ceremony he was humbled to take command at the brigade level and said his style of leadership would not differ much from his predecessor’s.

Novack said he and Morrissey may approach challenges differently, but the end result would be the same.

“We’re all at this level built the same,” he said.