Sims ’91 Promoted to the Rank of Brigadier General

Douglas Arthur “DA” Sims II ’91 was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in a ceremony at the U.S. Forces Afghanistan National Support Element Headquarters. Brig. Gen. Sims is the 1st Cavalry Division deputy commander for support and the commander of Task Force Forge in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Major General JT Thomson, commander of the 1st Cav. Div. presided over the ceremony. Attending via video teleconference were Sims’ wife, Faye, and daughter, Madeline, along with the 4th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Crosby from Fort Carson, Colorado. Sims’ brother and sister-in-law and Brigadier General Jim Blackburn also attended via VTC from San Antonio. The 1st Cav. Div. home station mission command team, including Colonel Bob Whittle and Colonel Jay Gallivan joined via VTC from Fort Hood. During the ceremony, Thomson affixed the one-star rank to Sims’ uniform and replaced the colonel cavalry hat with a general officer one. He also presented the general officer belt. 1st Cav. Div. Command Sergeant Major Maurice Jackson presided over the unfurling of Sims’ one-star flag. “This promotion is great news for our Army, and a well-earned promotion for an incredible leader,” Thomson said. He has served as a leader from platoon to regiment and currently commands a train, advise and assist task force. “Our Soldiers, our Families, our civilians are all blessed to have a leader of this caliber in our ranks,” Thomson said. Known for his positive approach, Sims’ motto for the small task force he commands is “day-by-day better.” Read More