Jackson Free Press

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — Col. Gregory Scott Michel of McComb will assume command of Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center this week.

The change of command ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at Camp Shelby located south of Hattiesburg off United States Highway 49.

Col. William B. "Brad" Smith, Jr. of Hattiesburg is the outgoing commander.

Smith has been the installation commander for three years and has 33 years of military service that included a deployment with the 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team to Iraq in 2009.

Michel deployed to Iraq with the Mississippi National Guard's 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team in 2004.

A change of command is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one commanding officer to another.