Bishop Takes Command of Tennessee's 194th Engineer Brigade

JACKSON, Tenn. - The Tennessee National Guard’s 194th Engineer Brigade, headquartered in Jackson, received a new commander on August 8, 2015. Brig. Gen. Tommy Baker, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Tennessee National Guard officiated a formal change of command ceremony at the Frankland-Taylor National Guard Armory on Dr. F.E. Wright Boulevard, where Col. Lyndon C. Johnson relinquished command to Col. James B. Bishop, a Brownsville native.

Col. Johnson took command of the Brigade on September 1, 2013 and, after a distinguished and successful career, will retire later this month.

Col. James B. "Brad" Bishop graduated from Haywood High School in 1983 and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He enlisted in the Tennessee Army National Guard as a Private First Class in 1984, and later went on to receive a commission from the Tennessee Military Academy in 1988 as a Second Lieutenant.

Bishop brings over 30 years of military experience to the new position. He has deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom throughout his career, first as the Branch Chief, Multi-National Logistics, for the 377th Theater Support Command and later, on his second tour, as the Commander of the 168th Military Police Battalion.

Col. Bishop's military education includes both the Armor Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Engineer Officer Advance Course, Combined Arms Service Staff School, Military Police Officers Pre-Command Course, and he is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. His numerous awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, and numerous awards of both the Army Commendation and Army Achievement Medals.

Col. Bishop currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Engineers at the Joint Forces Headquarters, Tennessee National Guard. In this capacity he is responsible for all real estate actions, new construction, and maintenance of all Army National Guard facilities across the state.

The 194th Engineer Brigade has approximately 2000 soldiers, and is considered one of the Army’s most diverse multi-functional engineer brigades consisting of an engineer battalion, an engineer detachment, and two military police battalions.

- Story by CW4 Nick Atwood​

PHOTO CAPTION:
Brig. Gen. Tommy Baker, The Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Tennessee National Guard, is shown here as he transfers the guidon to Col. Brad Bishop during the formal change of command ceremony at the 194th Engineer Brigade Headquarters in Jackson, Tenn. on August 8, 2015.