On a clear and sunny morning immediately following a damaging windstorm the previous night, the 4th Infantry Division welcomed its new deputy commanding general and chief of staff at Fort Carson Friday.

Brig. Gen. Brendan Raymond was introduced as the division’s new deputy commanding general — support and Col. Sean Lucas as its new chief of staff during a change-of-command ceremony.

Both spoke to a crowd of Army personnel, veterans and community members early Friday morning as they accepted their new positions.

“As we transform, modernize and train for large-scale operations, I’ll help foster a forward mindset and a spirit of innovation to solve problems, improve processes [and] incorporate lessons we learn and think differently as we prepare for future fights in an incredibly complex world,” Raymond said.

As a recent director of integration in the Army G-8 Force Development, Raymond hopes to apply this type of work to Fort Carson as the Army continues to restructure and reassign soldiers for modern-day conflicts.

The national restructuring includes five new task forces that will feature a large range of capabilities, such as gathering intelligence, air defenses, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and hypersonic missiles. They will also have cyber and electronic warfare units. Fort Carson will house a task force focused on the Indo-Pacific in the next few years.

Raymond was commissioned as a field artillery officer in 1996 following his graduation from the U.S. Military Academy. His time in service includes deployments throughout the Afghanistan War and recently served as the executive officer to the 25th secretary of the Army.

“I cut my teeth in the 4th Infantry Division,” Raymond said. “I learned what warfighting’s about, I learned how to train soldiers, I learned how to lead soldiers, I learned how to take care of soldiers and families, and I’m very, extremely privileged and happy to be back here.”

Lucas commissioned as an infantry officer from the academy in 2000 and has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria for various global operations. He most recently commanded the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, in Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

“It is an absolute pleasure to be here and to see how Fort Carson isn’t just an installation, but an integral part of the community,” Lucas said. “That’s evident by the folks that are here today. That’s evident by the interactions that soldiers from this division and this installation have across Colorado Springs and the greater Colorado area every single day.”

During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. David Doyle, commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, welcomed both men and their families to the base and to Colorado, confident they will make a difference going forward.

“We’re glad that both of you are on the team,” he said. “We look forward to serving with you and this entire organization is going to be better off because of your leadership, your skill, your proficiency and your dedication to the United States Army.”