Col. Michael Klaphake to Assume Command of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 3, 2024

Arden Hills, Minnesota – Army Col. Charles “Chip” Rankin will relinquish command of
the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, to Army Col. Michael
Klaphake in a ceremony on Friday at the General Vessey Readiness Center in Arden
Hills, Minnesota.

“As I assume command of this storied brigade, my top priority is to ensure our soldiers
are ready to respond to any requirement thrown at us from the federal to the state
level,” said Klaphake. “This means doing the common things uncommonly well, from
maintaining our equipment to conducting rigorous training. It also means prioritizing the
wellbeing of our soldiers and their families. It is my goal to provide predictability for our
Soldiers and their families, and through that we reduce some of the stresses our
Soldiers face when they balance serving in our military, working civilian jobs, and being
present for their families.”

Klaphake comes to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat team following assignment as the
Rear Detachment Chief of Staff of the 34th “Red Bull” Infantry Division. He was
previously the Commander of the 1st Squadron, 94th Calvary Regiment based in
Duluth, Minnesota. Klaphake was commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery officer in
the Minnesota National Guard in 2003. He deployed to Iraq in 2004-2006 and Kuwait in
2011-2012. In his civilian career, he is the Vice President of Technology Solutions at BI
Worldwide in Edina, MN, where he manages IT application security, software
development, and post-implementation support operations.

After successfully completing his tour as commander from 2021 to 2024, outgoing
commander Col. Charles Rankin has assumed duties as the Rear Detachment Chief of
Staff for the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division.

“Reintegrating and refitting nearly 2,000 soldiers returning from overseas deployments
while simultaneously modernizing the entire Armored Brigade Combat Team to prepare
for future demands has been a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Rankin. “I consider
myself extremely blessed to serve as the leader to the best Combat Brigade in the US
Army.”

The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division consists of eight
major subordinate commands. More than 4,700 Soldiers make up the brigade’s
combined arms, armor, calvary, infantry, artillery, engineer, and brigade support
battalions, constituting more than half of the Minnesota Army National Guard’s total
force structure.

– About the Minnesota National Guard –

Established in 1856 and headquartered in St. Paul, the Minnesota National Guard has more than 13,000 Soldiers and Airmen who serve in 58 communities across the state. The Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen of the Minnesota National Guard are ‘Always Ready’ to fight the nation’s wars, protect the country, respond to state emergencies, and contribute to local communities. For more information about the Minnesota National Guard, visit https://MinnesotaNationalGuard.ng.mil.