SMYRNA, Tenn. - The Tennessee National Guard’s 45th Weapons of Mass Destruction - Civil Support Team conducted a change of command ceremony at Smyrna’s Volunteer Training Site on Friday, Mar. 3.

Lt. Col. Bobby Rominger, who is from Gallatin and has commanded the 45th since December 2009, relinquished command to Lt. Col. Trey Robinson, who resides in Nashville.

As the commander, Rominger placed heavy emphasis on proficiency and ensuring the 45th was trained and equipped to meet any contingency. Over the last 4 years, the 45th responded to 72 pre-staged and emergency missions, three Training Proficiency Assessments, re-certified three times through an Army evaluation system, and passed National Guard Bureau’s Standardization, Evaluation, and Assistance Team assessment where it scored at or above the national average. 

“It has been an honor to command this unit during everything we have been through together the past few years,” said Rominger. “I will miss every one of you. Lt. Col. Robinson is a talented leader and I know he will help make you an even better team.”

Rominger will now serve as the Tennessee Military Department’s liaison officer to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

Robinson has more than 24 years of military experience and enlisted in the Air Force as an aircraft maintainer in 1994. In 2009 he earned a commission and worked as an intelligence officer for the 118th Wing in Nashville. He has been a member of the 45th since 2019 and served as the 45th’s deputy commander.

The 45th Civil Support Team is a rapid-response unit comprised of 22 Air and Army National Guard personnel from Tennessee. They work primarily with county emergency management agencies, local fire and police departments, and the Department of Homeland Security. They work large scale events testing for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear contaminants.