Lt. Col. Shawn C. Manley took command of the 891st Engineer Battalion in ceremonies Saturday afternoon in the Allen County Community College gymnasium before an assembly of battalion soldiers.
He replaces Lt. Col. Roger D. Murdock, who led the Kansas National Guard battalion the past 18 months.
Col. Barry Taylor, brigade commander, had a central role in the ceremony, also attended by Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, Kansas adjutant general.
The headquarters company of the 891st is stationed at the armory here.
Manley lauded the dedication and expertise of the soldiers he will lead in an acceptance speech, as did Murdock in farewell comments.
Manley has been a member of the 891st since 1989. He was commissioned through Candidate Officer School in July 1991. He has a degree in engineering management from Pittsburg State University and is working on a master’s degree in the same discipline at PSU.
Manley has served in various positions at all levels with the battalion and was in Iraq throughout 2005. He and wife Lisa, with children Colton and Grayson, live in Topeka.
Murdock joined the Kansas National Guard in 1985 as a Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet at Wichita State University. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1986. He served a year in Iraq from October 2008 to November 2009.
Murdoch has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s in engineering management from WSU. He and wife Jewel and their three sons, Jacob, Zachary and Bradon, live in Meriden.
Manley takes over 891st
