Col. Douglas A. Sims II, took the helm of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment during a Tuesday change of command ceremony at the unit’s headquarters in Vilseck, Germany.

Sims replaced Col. Keith A. Barclay, who had been in command since July 2011. Barclay led the unit through a period of training following its return from Afghanistan in the summer of 2011.

“Keith lead this regiment through the most collective phases of a unit’s life cycle,” said Maj. Gen. James C. Boozer, deputy commander of U.S. Army Europe, in comments provided by the 2nd Cav public affairs office. “No small task by any standard.”

During a speech, Barclay thanked the troops and their family members for working together as a team during his time in Vilseck.

“It’s never about an individual, even though they are sometimes selected out and recognized,” Barclay said. “It’s about the real team that was developed here, it was really about how can you make those around you more successful.”

Sims was commissioned an infantry officer in 1991 following graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Sims also has close ties to the unit he now commands. In July 2008, he served as the 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s deputy commander during combat operations in Diyala province, Iraq. He then took command of the regiment’s 1st Squadron in January 2009. Under his leadership, 1st Squadron deployed to the Republic of Georgia and deployed to combat operations in southern Afghanistan, according to a command account of past assignments.

“I’m excited to rejoin that team as we prepare for new adventures together,” Sims said.

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