FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- The 10th Mountain Division says goodbye to the man that's led its aviation brigade for the last two and a half years.

Colonel Pedro Almeida was honored Tuesday morning at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield on Fort Drum. During the ceremony, Almeida handed over control of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade to Colonel David Francis.

Almeida is credited with guiding the brigade through a very tough and important deployment to Afghanistan last year. He told his soldiers that his time at Fort Drum was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"I could not be prouder to have stood in your ranks for nearly three years. You made it enjoyable to come to work daily because I knew I was surrounded by the best our nation has to offer, led by the best leaders our nation has to offer," Almeida said.

The 10th CAB was formed at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1965. It spent two years at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome before moving to Fort Drum in 1990.