ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - The 57th Troop Command of the New Jersey Army National Guard, based in Atlantic City, will be changing commanders at 1:00 pm on Sunday, 21 October, 2001. Colonel Carlo Accardi will assume command from Colonel Thomas Sullivan at a ceremony at the Armory on 1008 Absecon Boulevard in Atlantic City. The 57th Troop Command is the headquarters for several subordinate units and provides command and control of the 119th Corps Support Battalion, the 1-150th Aviation Battalion, the 50th Finance Battalion, and the 50th Personnel Services Battalion. The media is invited to attend this ceremony. 

The  incoming commander, Colonel Carlo J. Accardi, is a self-employed businessman as co-owner of the Desert Sand Resort and The Mirage Restaurant in Avalon, New Jersey.  His last military assignment was as the Training and Operations Officer for the 57th Troop Command.  His previous assignments included Battalion Commander of the 119th Corps Support Battalion, the Plans and Operations Officer for Headquarters State Area Command, the Logistics Officer for the 154th Supply & Service Battalion and as Company Commander of the 253rd Transportation Company.

          Colonel Accardi was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated from Wildwood High School in 1971.  He joined the New Jersey Army National Guard in 1971 and has over 30 years of service.  He received a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics & Education from Glassboro State College, Glassboro, New Jersey in 1975.  While a member of the National Guard, he attended the Officer Candidate School in Sea Girt, New Jersey and was commissioned in 1974 and completed the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course.  He has also completed the Transportation Officer Advanced Course and the Command and General Staff College.  He has attended numerous other military schools throughout his career. Colonel Accardi resides with his wife, Joan, of 25 years and two sons; Carlo and Brandon, in Sewell, New Jersey.

 The Outgoing Commander, Colonel Thomas J. Sullivan is the Senior Full-Time Support Supervisor in the New Jersey Army National Guard. His previous military assignment was as the chief of Staff, Headquarters, State Area Command. As the principal Army assistant to the Adjutant General of New Jersey,  Colonel Sullivan supervises and coordinates the activities of the Army National Guard Staff, as well as the 900 members of the full-time Army National Guard workforce. Prior to this assignment, Colonel Sullivan served as the Director of Personnel and Community Services, Assistant Chief of Staff, New Jersey State Area Command Mobilization and Readiness Officer and numerous administrative, training, and staff assignments.  He commanded the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery and Service Battery, 4th Battalion, 112th Field Artillery.

 Colonel Sullivan was born in Trenton, New Jersey and received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Trenton State College and completed his Masters of Science in Business Administration at Liberty University.  He served as an enlisted member in both the New Jersey Air and Army National Guard and received his commission from the New Jersey Military Academy on 21 July 1973.  He completed the Field Artillery Officers’ Basic and Advanced courses, the  Command and General Staff College course, and is a graduate of the Army War College.  He has attended numerous other military and civilian schools throughout his career. Colonel Sullivan resides with his wife Jody, and son, T.J., in Morrisville, Pennsylvania.  

The 57th Troop Command has been involved in support operations dealing with the attack on America since 11 September. It is responsible for operating the base camp for the federal task force at Great Kills landfill on Staten Island which supports the men and women combing through the debris from the World Trade Center. Currently New Jersey has over 1000 soldiers and airmen on active duty dealing with the consequences of the 11 September attack. Duties range from providing security at airports and nuclear power plants, to flying fighter missions over the Northeast corridor, to managing donations. 

For more information about this change of command, or other operations of the New Jersey Army or Air National Guard, please contact Colonel John Dwyer at 609-530-6939.