DRAPER, Utah –
The Utah Army National Guard welcomes a new commander for its Land Component Command during a change-of-command ceremony scheduled to occur Saturday, May 1, at 8 a.m. at Tarbet Field, Camp Williams.
During the ceremony, Col. Charlene Dalto will promote to brigadier general and assume the role of commander of the Utah Army National Guard Land Component Command from Brig. Gen. Thomas C. Fisher. On this historic occasion, Dalto will become the first female to be promoted to brigadier general in the Utah Army National Guard.
Dalto, a Farmington resident and registered nurse for Intermountain Healthcare, has commanded the Utah Army National Guard’s Medical Detachment since February 2018. Dalto has served in the military for more than 38 years. She served her first 20 years as an enlisted Soldier, achieving the second-highest rank serving as a master sergeant, and then took a direct commission into the U.S. Army Nurse Corps as a first lieutenant, serving 18 years as an officer. Dalto’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal. She deployed to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1990.
“I am both honored and grateful to Maj. Gen. Michael Turley and Gov. Spencer Cox for the opportunity to serve as the Land Component commander,” said Dalto. Throughout my military career, I have been privileged to know many great Soldiers and be mentored by outstanding leaders. I pledge to continue that tradition for the Soldiers under my command. Together we will dedicate ourselves to the great tradition of the Utah Army National Guard for excellence in serving the citizens of Utah and our great nation.”
Fisher, a Park City resident and county manager for Summit County, has commanded the Utah Army National Guard’s Land Component Command since November 2016, providing strategic-level leadership, vision and guidance in support of the adjutant general and major subordinate commands. He also recently served as the deputy commander for the Maneuver Support Center located at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri from 2018 to 2020, where he served as a strategic advocate for engineer, military police and chemical units of the National Guard. He has served over 31 years as a career-traditional Guard member. His local-government leadership and experience has brought value to both his National Guard service and reciprocally to his civilian career. Fisher has received the Legion of Merit and multiple Meritorious Service Medals and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
“It has been my complete privilege and the opportunity of a lifetime to serve the men and women of the Utah National Guard,” said Fisher. “I have achieved more than I could have ever imagined and could have ever expected. I've achieved this not because of my own merits, but because of the great effort and support that I have received from the Soldiers and Airmen of the Utah National Guard, my civilian employers, my family and especially my wife. For 31 years, I have watched and participated in the growth of this wonderful organization as it has defended our nation and supported our state. I look forward to witnessing where the next generations of great Utah leaders improve what is in place and what has already been achieved. They are always ready and always there.”
Fisher is scheduled to be honored during his retirement ceremony following the change-of-command ceremony.