Garrison Command Leadership

COL Brendan R. Gallagher
Garrison Commander

COL Brendan Gallagher was commissioned as an Infantry officer via ROTC at Johns Hopkins University in 2001.

He attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School in 2001. His first assignment was as a rifle platoon leader and then company XO in B Co, 1-506th Infantry Regiment, Camp Greaves, Korea.

In 2003, he was assigned to C Co, 3rd Ranger Battalion where he served as platoon leader and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2005, he attended the Infantry Captains Career Course where he was recognized as the distinguished honor graduate.

COL Gallagher was next assigned to 1-5 CAV, 2ABCT, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Cavazos (known as Fort Hood prior to 2023), Texas, in 2006 where he served as Battalion Assistant S3, and then assumed command of B Co for the majority of a 15-month deployment to Baghdad during the Iraq surge. He was then assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment in 2009 where he served as LNO and Regimental Assistant S-3, prior to assuming command of Regimental HHC and deploying multiple times to Afghanistan.

From 2011-2012, he attended the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he received the General George C. Marshall Award as the distinguished graduate. He was next assigned to 6-4 CAV, 3IBCT, 1st Infantry Division, where he served as Squadron S3, and then served as Brigade XO in Afghanistan. Following redeployment, he was selected for the Advanced Strategic Planning and Policy Program to conduct doctoral studies at Princeton.

In 2017, he was assigned to the Commander’s Action Group at the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Moore (known as Fort Benning prior to 2023), Georgia, and later served as XO to the Commanding General. He subsequently commanded 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Regiment. Following that, he commanded 1st Battalion, 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade at Fort Cavazos, Texas. Next, he served as Chief of the Collective Training Division on the Army Staff, G-3/5/7 at the Pentagon.

Colonel Gallagher’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold), and the Ranger Tab.

He holds a B.A. and M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Public Affairs from Princeton University.

Aurora Castañeda assumed the position of Deputy Garrison Commander, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Bliss, Texas, in July 2022. However, she is no stranger to Fort Bliss and the surrounding El Paso community. Upon graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso, she began her civil service career at Fort Bliss, serving for 17 years before applying and selection to attend the Defense Comptroller Program where she earned two master’s degrees from Syracuse University. Her follow-on assignment was to G8, Installation Management Command Headquarters, Crystal City, Virginia.

Ms. Castañeda embraces the ongoing learning from many leaders and team-mates, as well as her varied experiences at both the Garrison and HQ echelons. She has been a Resource Manager throughout her career, starting as a HQ Department of the Army Intern assigned to Fort Bliss and culminating as the IMCOM Deputy G8, where she managed resources that spanned across all IMCOM echelons, missions, and core competencies. She brings that experience to her new role as the Deputy Garrison Commander empowering staff to deliver base services that enable mission readiness and enhance the quality of life for our Soldiers, Families, and Civilians.

Her awards and decorations are commensurate with her time and service, to include recently receiving the Superior Civilian Service Medal for contributions made as the Deputy G8, IMCOM HQ.

Command Sergeant Major Robert M. Theus enlisted in the Army in September 2002.  He attended Basic Combat Training in Fort Benning, Georgia.  Upon completing Basic Combat Training, he attended Advanced Individual Training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  CSM Theus has served in numerous duty positions to include RTO, FO, COLT, BN Targeting NCO, BN Fire Support Sergeant, BDE Targeting NCO, BDE Fire Support Sergeant, BCD Fire Support Sergeant, Senior Drill Sergeant, First Sergeant, 13Z Career Management NCO, Chief of Analysis and Doctrine, and Battalion Command Sergeant Major.  

His assignments include tours of duty with the 1st BN, 501 PIR, Fort Richardson, Alaska; HHC, 4th BDE, 25th ID, Fort Richardson; 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina; 1st BN, 40th FA, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; the NCOLCoE, Fort Bliss, Texas; and 2nd BN, 305TH FA, Camp Shelby, Mississippi.  He has served five tours in the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.  

CSM Theus’ military service schools and civilian education include Fire Support Specialist Course, Airborne Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Joint Fires Observer Course, Joint Firepower Control Course, Precision Fires Course, Battle Staff Course, Senior Leaders Course, Drill Sergeant Course, the Company Commander and First Sergeant Course, the Common Faculty Development-Instructor Course, the Sergeants Major Resident Course (Class 71), the Pre-Command Course, and the Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course.  He holds an associate degree in Military History from American Military University, a bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Workforce Development from the Army Command and General Staff College, and a master’s degree in Leadership Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso.  

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), National Defense Service Medal, NCOPD Medal (Numeral 5), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (5th Award), Valorous Unit Award (1 OLC), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 Combat Stars), Iraq Campaign Medal (2 Combat Stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and NATO Medal (2nd Award).  His special skill badges include the Parachutist Badge, the Combat Action Badge, and the Drill Sergeant Badge.