By Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (July 15, 2025) — Col. John Copeland relinquished command of the 14th Military Police Brigade to Col. Samuel Meyer during a ceremony July 11 on Gammon Field.

The reviewing officer for the ceremony, Col. Charles Green, U.S. Army Military Police School commandant, said Copeland exceptionally led the 14th MP Bde.

“Col. Copeland has empowered and mentored subordinates while providing vision and inspiring realistic training for more than 20,000 initial entry training Soldiers,” Green said.

Copeland took command of the brigade in July of 2023.

“It has been the professional honor of my life to command this brigade,” Copeland said. “Each day we train the Soldiers who will fight, lead and win our nation’s wars.”

He said as brigade commander he has been “keenly focused on combat readiness.”

According to Copeland, the brigade builds versatile Soldiers, who are both warriors and law enforcement professionals.

“Our Soldiers are ready to stick a bayonet in the belly of an enemy fighter and hold a crying baby at the scene of a domestic violence call,” Copeland said.

He ended his remarks by welcoming Meyer to the brigade.

“Col. Meyer, you now command a team of professionals who will give you their all. I am honored to have passed the colors to you today,” Copeland said.

Copeland is retiring after 26 years of service.

“For 26 years, John has faithfully stood the watch,” Green said. “We salute your leadership and impact on the regiment.”

Meyer is coming to Fort Leonard Wood from Yongsan, South Korea, where he served as the provost marshal for United Nations Command, Combined Force Command, United States Forces Korea.

During his remarks, Meyer thanked 14th MP Bde. Soldiers for planning and executing the ceremony and said he felt privileged to be joining the brigade.

“It’s truly and honor to have the opportunity to serve with you,” Meyer said. “The 14th MP Bde. will continue to forge the regiment. We will increase lethality through discipline, standards and the mastery of the fundamentals.”

For more photos from the ceremony, visit Fort Leonard Wood’s Flickr page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-30-

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.