GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan, - Army Lt. Col. Brian P. Stevens assumed command of the Texas Agribusiness Development Team mission during a ceremony here Oct. 13.
Stevens took command of the mission from U.S. Army Col. Albert J. Adkinson, who has commanded the mission since December.
“We leave with confidence knowing we worked hard to improve the lives of the people of Ghazni province. I am extremely proud of the success of ADT-III, and I know ADT-IV will continue our success and go above and beyond where we were able to go. We are being replaced by a strong team with a tremendous amount of talent and ability,” said Adkinson.
Speakers for the event included Brig. Gen. Andrzej Przekwas, Task Force White Eagle commander; Sultan Hussein, Ghazni director of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock; and Col. Zurawar Zahid, Afghan uniform police chief.
“This mission will definitely be a team effort, and we will strive to work to ensure continued improvement here in Ghazni. We are excited to continue this unique and important mission with Director Hussein, his staff, as well as other elements of the government and people of Ghazni,” Stevens said after accepting command of the ADT mission for the Texas National Guard unit.
The Texas ADT is comprised of Texas Army National Guard members with backgrounds and expertise in various sectors of the agribusiness field.
Utilizing this experience, their mission is to improve the capacity, competence and capability of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan by working with various Afghan governmental agencies, such as Sultan Hussein and the Ghazni DAIL.
“Our goals are to increase the capacity of the Afghan government to provide services to the Afghan people in a positive and sustainable way while increasing the agricultural and economic output of Ghazni province,” said Stevens.
“By increasing agricultural value chains and decreasing unemployment, the Afghan government will continue to improve the security and the quality of life for the people of Ghazni. Shoulder to shoulder with the Afghan people, growing the future of Afghanistan!”