19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command Welcomes New Commander

CAMP WALKER, Republic of Korea - 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command bid farewell to Brig. Gen. Jin Pak and welcomed Col. Ricardo Jones during a change of command ceremony September 30, 2026 at Camp Walker, South Korea.

The ceremony was hosted by Eighth Army commander Lt. Gen. Joseph Hilbert and brought Soldiers, civilian employees and partners together to recognize Pak's leadership, mark the transition of command, and welcome Jones as he takes command of the 19th ESC.

"The 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command operates at the very center of this alliance," Lt. Gen. Joseph Hilbert said. "And the shoulder sleeve that they wear, it features the Rose of Sharon and the traditional yin-yang, and it's a constant and visual reminder that we are one team with two nations."

Headquartered in Daegu, the 19th ESC synchronizes operational sustainment for Eighth Army across the Korean Peninsula. Through its units and partners, the command coordinates supply, maintenance, ammunition, transportation, and law enforcement support to help keep forces equipped and ready.

Pak commanded the 19th ESC from 2024 to 2026, advancing initiatives that strengthened readiness, alliance integration and community ties. Under Pak's leadership, 19th ESC and ROK Army Logistics Command established the Combined Logistics Execution Coordination Center, a bilateral hub where U.S. Army and ROK Army personnel integrate military supply-chain operations.

"Readiness begins and ends with sustainment, and 19th ESC is the decisive organization providing that sustainment." Pak said. "Since taking command in June of 2024, this team has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to generate and sustain combat power for Eighth Army as part of the joint force."

Pak also oversaw the implementation of Market 19, the U.S. Army's first autonomous kitchen, modernizing food-service operations while ensuring Soldiers remained fueled and ready. Beyond the installation, Pak strengthened relationships with Korean community leaders through programs such as the Korean American Friendship Circle and Korean Advisory Council, reinforcing the trust that underpins the U.S.-ROK Alliance.

"The strength of the U.S.-ROK Alliance is built not only through plans and exercises, but also through the trust and relationships we develop every day," Pak said.

Jones arrives from U.S. Army Materiel Command, headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, where he served as executive officer to the commanding general.

In his remarks, Jones thanked the Soldiers, Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army personnel, Department of the Army civilians and Korean national employees whose work supports the command's mission. He also emphasized his initial priorities for Team 19.

"19th ESC will continue to be a fit, inspiring, trained, and disciplined organization," Jones said. "We will be laser focused on enhancing readiness, modernizing the alliance, shaping the theater, and taking care of people."

He connected those expectations to the command's legacy, crediting earlier Team 19 members with building the foundation he hopes to carry forward.

"The U.S.-ROK alliance has endured because generations of Americans and Koreans have worked together with shared purpose and mutual respect, and I'm committed to strengthening those relationships," Jones said.