Recently, Col. Michelle (Smith) DePuy, formerly of Dickinson Center, was promoted as the Brigade Commander of the 97th Training Brigade, Fort Sheridan, IL.

This brigade is responsible for training/teaching all Command and General Staff Officers’ Courses at 32 sites across the United States and Puerto Rico.

During the change of command ceremony Brigadier General McLaughlin spoke of COL DePuy’s professionalism, leadership abilities, selfless service, mental and physical toughness and character.

Col. DePuy started her military career at the 310th Field Hospital in Malone as a Private (PV1) administrative specialist. She later graduated from St. Lawrence University and was then commissioned as a 2LT.

She has continued to move up through the ranks and has held many command positions. She was the Battalion Commander of the 2-313th Logistics Support Battalion, Fort Drum.

DePuy has 36 years of service and 8 of those years were on active duty. She was mobilized in 2003 in support of 911 for “Operation Enduring Freedom”, deployed to Bosnia in 2000 in support of “Operation Just Cause” and deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1992 in support of “Desert Fox”.

She is a graduate of the Advanced Officer Warfighting Course, National Defense Strategy Course and National Security Course. She is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal.

She is the daughter of Carl & Marlene Smith from Dickinson Center, and a long-standing member of American Legion Post 514 Brasher Falls.

She recently moved to the Albany area with her husband Garth and teaches math at Albany High School.