By Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (July 3, 2025) — Col. Hector Montemayor relinquished command of the 3rd Chemical Brigade to Col. Kirsten McFarland during a ceremony July 1 in Nutter Field House.
The reviewing officer for the ceremony, U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School Commandant Col. Alexander Lovasz, said the 3rd Chemical Bde. is an “incredibly complex organization” to lead, as it is responsible for Fort Leonard Wood’s basic chemical, infantry and transportation training.
“It is a mix between basic combat training and CBRN instructional formations,” Lovasz said.
When asked to write about his favorite time while commanding the brigade, Lovasz said Montemayor wrote “crawling at night with Soldiers through the Night Infiltration Course.”
“That highlights his professionalism,” Lovasz said.
During his remarks, Montemayor thanked the leaders he worked with as commander and Soldiers who have mentored and supported him throughout his career.
As he reflected on the last two years, he said he was “humbled” by his journey.
“We have led from the front and built a team that shows up,” Montemayor said. “We have a relentless culture of excellence.”
Montemayor’s next assignment will keep him at Fort Leonard Wood as the next Maneuver Support Capability Development Integration Directorate commander.
McFarland’s last assignment was as the commander of U.S. Army Recruiting Command’s Nashville Army Recruiting Battalion in Tennessee, before attending the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.
As she addressed the audience, she said it was an “absolute honor and privilege to stand before you as the commander of this incredible brigade.”
“It feels like coming home and I am very grateful and fortunate for the opportunity.”
She began her Army career by deploying to Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division and later served as a platoon leader for the 21st Chemical Company in Afghanistan. She has also commanded a medical company in Hawaii.
Lovasz closed his remarks by welcoming McFarland to the CBRN team.
“I look forward to her leadership as she takes the 3rd Chemical Bde. to new heights,” Lovasz said.
To view more photos from the ceremony, visit Fort Leonard Wood’s Flickr page.
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About Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 80 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains nearly 80,000 military and civilians each year.
Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.
Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.
More information about Fort Leonard Wood is at: https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/about/mission