Baldwin confirms his departure to Pentagon
Standing before an overflow crowd of troops, family and friends, base commander Col. Nick Ducich accepted a promotion to the rank of Brigadier General Saturday in front of the 40th Infantry Division headquarters at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.
While Ducich has made quick progress as commander at JFTB, he also earned widespread community support. Nevertheless, the National Guard on Saturday made official an announcement that Ducich, as a General, would soon be transferred to Washington, D.C.
“Col. Ducich has shown leadership with every assignment, including leading troops into combat,” said Major General David Baldwin, the Adjutant General of the California Military Department, who presided over the ceremony.
Recognizing Ducich’s abilities, Baldwin said he and Gov. Gavin Newsom selected him for the promotion to General, but “unfortunately, we are not the only ones who recognized his potential for leadership.”
Baldwin said Gen. Ducich “also caught the eye” of General Joseph L. Lengyel, the National Guard’s top official in the Pentagon who represents the Guard on the nation’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, who has now requested Ducich as a member of his team.
General Baldwin briefly recounted some highlights of Gen. Ducich’s military career, noting that what was more important than what Ducich has done in the past is what he will do in the future. “We’re not looking backwards today,” said Gen. Baldwin, “we are looking forward.”
Baldwin officially announced that Ducich was being reassigned to the Pentagon, where he will “coordinate the National Guard’s response” to homeland security challenges for all 50 states and four U.S. territories.”
The state’s top military official said while Ducich’s re-assignment is perhaps disappointing for Los Alamitos, it could very well turn out in the future to be a terrific opportunity for the California Guard and for Joint Forces Training Base.
In order for Ducich to qualify for the new Joint Operations command, however, “he needs a star and we are going to take care of that today.”
Ducich, who has commanded the base for less than a year, had promised revival of local programs, which made him very popular within the local community.
In addition to his role as base commander, Ducich also acted as Deputy Commanding General, Support, 40th Infantry Division, headquartered on the base.
As Gen. Baldwin prepared to make Ducich a Brigadier General, a military aide first read aloud the official Pentagon order authorizing the promotion of Col. Ducich. Gen. Baldwin invited all veterans and service members from all attending services to stand
“By special order from headquarters, the Department of the Army and the Air Force National Guard bureau, the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Army, has bestowed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, fidelity and abilities of Col Ducich. In view of these qualities and his potential for increased responsibility, Col. Nick Ducich is therefore promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.”
Before officially pinning the General’s star on Ducich, Baldwin presented him with a specially inscribed revolver that, in a long U.S. Army tradition, is presented to officers who achieve the rank of General Officer. Also, Ducich was presented with the bright red flag with a single star, which will now follow him to denote his General’s rank.
Baldwin then pinned the star on Col. Ducich and the large crowd erupted in applause.
Ducich thanked the General, and others as he recounted many “tough lessons” learned during his military career. “After three deployments and numerous military training exercises”, Ducich said he was proud and humbled to be made General.
Moreover, he thanked the many non-commissioned officers who had worked with him during various commands over the years performing various commands. “I had some incredible teammates,” said Ducich, adding that he learned so much from them. Many times, he said, interfacing with them “was the best part of my day.”
Ducich, who joined the guard in 1988, comes from a military family. His mother and father emigrated from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Commanding a recent NATO mission, Ducich became the first Serbian American to ever command troops in a Balkan country.
Ducich on Saturday thanked the many Serbian families who, for some of them, “have driven many miles” watch a truly historic occasion. According to the U.S. Army, fewer than eight percent of all service members advance to the rank of Colonel and less than one percent ever achieve the rank of Brigadier General.
For Serbian Americans, Ducich’s ascendance seemed to have special meaning. The crowd was so large, in fact, that service members had to bring out several additional rows of chairs before the event began. Even so, there were still many rows of people standing behind the seating.
In addition to his large family contingent, many veterans, military service members and a large group of friends and officials from the area attended as well. Los Alamitos Mayor Richard Murphy, Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Chirco and council member Shelley Hasselbrink attended along with State Sen. Thomas Umberg, himself a retired Colonel.
Ducich also thanked his wife Kristia and their three children (Natalija, Luke and Ivan), recalling with emotion how supportive his young children had been as they followed daddy’s career around the world. “Of all my titles,” said Ducich, “I’m most proud of being called dad.”
Throughout it all, Ducich said he felt the “love of the family’s ‘strength and support.’”
Ducich assumed command of the JFTB in May of 2019, moving quickly to reorganize base assets, introduce more accountability and he quickly moved to modernize the 50-year-old base.
Gen. Ducich regularly attended Chamber meetings, he quickly signed a long-sought agreement with the city of Los Alamitos for ‘Race on the Base’ and the base commander had also announced the reboot of events such as “Wheels, Wings and Rotors.”
Looking out over the large crowd, Ducich said “I love this (JFTB) base,” as he now prepares to depart. Ducich will have only a couple of weeks to pack up and get to Washington, D.C. Gen. Michael Leeney will assume command of JFTB on Feb. 1 (see related story).
Ducich said while he would immediately depart for the new command, his family would stay behind so his children could finish their school year before relocating.
Gen. Ducich’s new assignment involves a prestigious command associated with the Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
