Colonel Donny Hebel Takes Command of Tennessee's 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Knoxville

The Tennessee National Guard announced a significant shift in leadership as Colonel Donny Hebel assumed command of the prominent 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Knoxville. During a ceremony steeped in tradition, Colonel Timothy Shubert, who has led the regiment with distinction since January 2021, handed over the reins to Hebel at West High School's football field on Sunday.

Shubert, a native of Kingsport, is credited with steering the 278th through various stateside emergencies and prepping them for an upcoming extensive training mission at Fort Cavazos, Texas this summer, his tenure marked by steady leadership at the helm of one of the largest units in the Tennessee Guard. Hebel, stepping into the spotlight from his recent role as Deputy Chief of Staff – Operations at the Joint Force Headquarters in Nashville, brings a robust 25 years of military experience to his new command, as reported by the Tennessee National Guard's official news release.

The 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment boasts being one of only five Armored Brigade Combat Teams in the National Guard and stands as the largest Tennessee Guard unit, its presence dispersed among more than 4,000 Soldiers spread strategically throughout the state. Hebel's ascendancy to the role of regimental commander follows a well-trodden path of military transitions, embodying the perpetual readiness and adaptability of the National Guard.

As the 278th girds itself for the challenges ahead, Hebel is set to wield his extensive operational experience to ensure the regiment's continued excellence, his appointment signals a refreshed era of leadership. His rise to command is observed by the guardsmen and women he leads, reflective of the trust placed in him to carry forward the legacy of the storied 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, which continues to bolster Tennessee's military prowess both at home and in training missions such as the impending exercises at Fort Cavazos.