Connect with us

Alabama

Alabama National Guard leader Maj. Gen. Sheryl Gordon retiring, Brig. Gen. David Pritchett named as replacement – Yellowhammer News

Published

on

Alabama National Guard leader Maj. Gen. Sheryl Gordon retiring, Brig. Gen. David Pritchett named as replacement – Yellowhammer News


The first woman to lead the Alabama National Guard is retiring and is being replaced by a decorated artillery officer, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced today.

Maj. Gen. Sheryl Gordon will retire at the end of this year as the adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard after six years in the position. Ivey has selected Alabama native Brig. Gen. David Pritchett to serve as the next leader of the Alabama National Guard.

Gordon has led the Alabama National Guard since Ivey appointed her in 2017. She brought strong leadership among the soldiers and airmen, which allowed Alabama to further itself as the strongest community for the military. From helping land the F-35 fighter jets to providing security at the southern border to responding in times of crisis, Gordon ensured the Alabama National Guard always stood ready.

“In 2017, when I tapped General Gordon to serve as adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard, I noted she was a trailblazer and visionary leader. Her record throughout her tenure has proven that to be true, and I commend her for her service,” Ivey said. “While it is important to applaud her for being Alabama’s first female adjutant general, I am proudest of her decades of military service and steadfast leadership. I know General Gordon will continue contributing to this state we call home and our nation.”

Advertisement

 Q&A: Meet the first woman to lead the Alabama National Guard

In 2022, Ivey requested, through the National Guard Bureau, an extension for Gordon’s service through the end of 2023 so that she could see through certain leadership and project priorities. Together over the last year-plus, the governor and Gordon have made preparations for the change of command at the Alabama National Guard to occur in January.

Maj. Gen. Sheryl Gordon. (contributed)

“I’ve been blessed with a long career, and I am certainly proud of one constant effort, and that has been supporting and equipping the outstanding soldiers and airmen of Alabama. My greatest accomplishments have everything to do with the Guardsmen – the Guardsmen being promoted, awarded and achieving their dreams, goals and potential,” said Maj. Gen. Gordon. “I thank Governor Ivey for entrusting me with this duty. It has truly been the highest honor and pleasure to serve the nation’s finest men and women, and I wish General Pritchett even greater success in doing the same. ‘It Shall Be Done!’”

Ivey expressed excitement that Pritchett, a Jefferson County native and Auburn alum, will be returning to Alabama to serve as the adjutant general of the National Guard. He currently serves as director of the joint staff for the Wyoming National Guard.

Advertisement

“We are fortunate to have General Pritchett return to Alabama to serve at the helm of the National Guard. His exceptional military experience and diverse leadership background will help us forge on with existing projects and missions, and will help foster even more growth at the Alabama National Guard,” Ivey said. “There is no better person to fill the shoes left by General Gordon, and I am proud General Pritchett will be joining us in the Ivey administration. I look forward to working with him in the years to come to ensure Alabama always stands ready and is always there to protect and serve.”

Pritchett, who has several awards and decorations, has wide-ranging military service, including many stints in Alabama. He received his military start in 1988 in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in Bessemer but has spent most of his years serving in the Alabama National Guard.

Brig. Gen. David Pritchett. (contributed)

“I am grateful to Governor Ivey on my upcoming appointment to be the next adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard. This organization has a storied past of service to our great state and country,” he said. “Our soldiers, airmen and civilians are prepared to face any challenge to ensure the safety of our citizens, protect critical infrastructure, and if necessary, to deploy overseas to fight and win our nation’s wars. I am both honored and humbled to be the next leader of the Alabama National Guard.”

Pritchett attended Auburn University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in public administration. He also earned his Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. His training is extensive and includes Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Field Artillery Captains’ Career Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Fire Support Coordinators Course, Field Artillery Pre-Command Course, Air Defense Artillery Reclassification Course and Dual Status Commander’s Course.

Advertisement

The governor’s appointment of Gen. Pritchett is effective Jan. 1, 2024. The official change of command ceremony will be Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Pritchett’s wife, Julie, is a native of Fort Payne, and they have three adult children: Katelyn, Clay and Anna Chris.

Courtesy of Alabama News Center.

Don’t miss out!  Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Alabama

Alabama guard Chris Youngblood finds form in win over Texas A&M

Published

on

Alabama guard Chris Youngblood finds form in win over Texas A&M


COLLEGE STATION, TX Nate Oats’ continued faith in Chris Youngblood was rewarded Saturday. The fifth-year guard had his best performance of the season during No. 5 Alabama’s gritty 94-88 win over No. 10 Texas A&M, helping the Crimson Tide notch a massive top-10 victory.

Youngblood finished with a season-high 14 points and tallied five rebounds, one assist and a steal in just 18 minutes on the floor. He was one of four double-digit scorers and made a few big shots in the second half to help Alabama survive on the road.

Most critical for Youngblood, and Alabama’s ability to come away with a win, was his 3 of 6 clip from the 3-point line. While the Aggies made things difficult for the Tide with its pressure defense and ability on the glass, Alabama shot the ball superbly well from beyond the arc in the first half, going 10 of 22 from deep.

Youngblood was responsible for a pair of those makes. His three total triples are the most he’s made in a game for Alabama and he finished in double figures for just the second time this season.

Advertisement

“It’s the best feeling,” Youngblood after the game. “But what really helped me do that was just getting lost in the game. Like [Oats] said, the blue-collar points and I knew if I focus on that the offense, that’ll come.”

Youngblood’s focus on the blue-collar plays was crucial as the Tide cooled down slightly from 3 in the second half. He played a vital role in Alabama’s 8-0 run that pushed its lead to 15 points with just under 11 minutes remaining. Youngblood first drilled a 3 to make it 65-55, then stole the ball from Aggies guard Zhuric Phelps, converting an and-1 layup on the other end.

When Texas A&M gutted and ground its way back into the game, it was Youngblood who answered the call when Alabama needed it most. Oats has previously praised Youngblood for his ability on the glass, and he grabbed a big rebound off a Phelps miss with 2:51 remaining and the Tide up by 3. He did the same thing on the offensive end for Alabama, putting himself on the line and making two free throws to put the Tide up 90-84.

“I told him we were gonna get him some shots this game,” Oats said. “We kind of tried to put him up with the press to have some other guys handle it, get him open. He goes 3 of 6. He made a bunch of tough plays too. He’s a winner. He’s a competitor. He’s a leader. You want him in.”

Alabama has high expectations for Youngblood. He was billed as a player who would make a big impact on the offensive end after he averaged 15.3 points per game and shot 41.6% from 3, winning Co-American Conference Player of the Year at South Florida.

Advertisement

Youngblood suffered an ankle injury this offseason after transferring to Alabama. He missed the Tide’s first nine games of the season and has struggled to regain that form since coming back. Being able to step up on the road in one of the Tide’s biggest games of the season will do wonders for Youngblood’s confidence going forward and his performance showcased what kind of a difference-maker he can be on both ends of the floor.

“I thought he did the best job on Phelps tonight and that’s with him still not 100% because he’s still trying to get back from the ankle surgery,” Oats said. “So, his competitiveness, his winning attitude and then, boy it was great to see him drop some shots tonight.”

Going forward, Alabama will continue to depend on Youngblood’s leadership and ability, especially with fellow veteran guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. out for the season with a torn Achilles.

Oats’ confidence in Youngblood never wavered, and that faith was re-paid in a big way Saturday as Alabama notched another big win in the race for the SEC title. As Alabama looks ahead to No. 23 Ole Miss on Tuesday, Oats is confident that Youngblood’s performance isn’t a blip, but a sign that he’s turned a corner at a critical time for the Tide.

“We knew what we were getting with him from South Florida. He’s the conference player of the year. He shoots at a really high clip. He just had to get off that surgery, get himself back comfortable.

Advertisement

Alabama will take on Ole Miss at 6 p.m. CT Tuesday night inside Coleman Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN U.



Source link

Continue Reading

Alabama

South Alabama adds former SEC offensive lineman via transfer portal

Published

on

South Alabama adds former SEC offensive lineman via transfer portal


South Alabama on Saturday added a transfer portal commitment from former South Carolina offensive lineman Ni Mansell.

Mansell (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) played in two games for the Gamecocks this past season after redshirting in 2023 due to injury and has one season of eligibility remaining. A native of Anderson, S.C., he played three seasons at Mercer — starting 10 games at guard in 2022, with the 2020 season not counting against his eligibility due to COVID.

Mansell (whose full first name is pronounced “Nye-ju-won”) is South Alabama’s fifth portal commitment in the current cycle, joining linebacker Tre’Mon Henry (Southern Miss), defensive end Tirrell Johnson (Harding), wide receiver Brendan Jenkins (Samford) and defensive back Dallas Young (Arkansas). The Jaguars are expected to add a few more portal transfers before spring semester classes begin on Monday.

South Alabama went 7-6 in 2024, beating Eastern Michigan 30-23 in the Salute to Veterans Bowl.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Alabama

Alabama-Texas A&M free livestream: How to watch SEC basketball game, TV, schedule

Published

on

Alabama-Texas A&M free livestream: How to watch SEC basketball game, TV, schedule


The No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide play against the No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies in an SEC basketball game tonight. The matchup will begin at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Crimson Tide enter this matchup with a 13-2 record, and they have won seven consecutive games. In their most recent game, the Crimson Tide defeated South Carolina 88-68.

During the victory, Alabama’s star guard Mark Sears scored 22 points and shot 7-12 from the field. He also shot 4-6 from beyond the arc, so he will try to perform similarly this evening.

The Aggies also enter this matchup with a 13-2 record, and they have won nine games in a row. The team has a 4-0 record against ranked opponents.

Advertisement

In their most recent game, the Aggies defeated Oklahoma 80-78. During the victory, Zhuric Phelps led the Texas A&M offense. He scored 34 points and shot 6-10 from three-point range, so he will try to continue his great play tonight.

Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending