229th BEB

Welcome to the 229th BEB!

Welcome to the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion’s official website & store! Explore to learn more about our battalion, our history, and our commitment to excellence in service.

THROUGH ENDURANCE, WE CONQUER!

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Fredericksburg-based Echo Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th IBCT conduct helocast air insertions during the annual Warrior Stakes squad competition June 23-24, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, provided aviation support for helocasting with a CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

Meet the Command Team:

The 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion is commanded by LTC Chandler Pearson. LTC Pearson’s Senior Enlisted Advisor and the 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion’s Command Sergeant Major is CSM Donald Spring.

  • LTC W. Chandler Pearson graduated from Florida Institute of Technology in 2008 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and was commissioned as an Engineer Officer in the Virginia Army National Guard. Upon commissioning, LTC Pearson was assigned as a Sapper Platoon Leader in Company A, 116 th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB). In July 2010 he was selected to serve as the Executive Officer for Company A, 116 th BSTB. He deployed to Tallil, Iraq July 2011 as the Executive Officer for Company A, 116 th BSTB in support of Operation New Dawn. Following the deployment, he was assigned to the 116 th BCT HQ in July 2012 as the Engineer Plans Officer and was incremental in the 116 th IBCTs Warfighter Exercise with the 42 nd Division.

    In August of 2014, LTC Pearson was selected as Company Commander for Company A, 116 th BSTB, where he successfully integrated Sapper Squads into Infantry Company live fire exercises during the 116 th BCT’s Multi-Echelon Integrated Brigade Training exercise at Ft. Drum, NY. LTC Pearson additionally deployed Company A, to Fort Polk, LA in support of JRTC Rotation 16-04. Upon return from JRTC LTC Pearson accepted a fulltime position as the BN S3 for the 116 th BSTB in July 2016. As the BN S3 he spearheaded the conversion of the Battalion from the Brigade Special Troops Battalion to the 229 th Brigade Engineer Battalion (BEB) in October 2016. LTC Pearson was incremental as the Deputy CDR for the BEB and the units assigned mission as the VA National Guard Response Force roll and quickly deploying and organizing support for multiple in support of State authorities in Charlottesville and District of Columbia. In 2018, he was selected to lead the initial response team ahead of the 116 th BCT HQ deployment response on a Joint Humanitarian Mission to the USVI. Throughout the mission he assisted as a senior engineer officer and deputy operations officer both on St. Croix and St. Thomas during Hurricane Maria.

    In November 2019, LTC Pearson was assigned as MILCON Program Officer within the ARNG G-9 at National Guard Bureau. During his tenure as Program Officer, he additionally acted as the MILCON Branch Chief for 9 months and was incremental in developing the ARNGs first 10-year MILCON Installation Plan and programing 3 separate MILCON Future Years Defense Programing (FYDP) submissions to Department of the Army and Congress. Following his tour at NGB LTC Pearson was selected to serve as the Executive Officer for the Virginia Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion (RRBN), where has data analytics and experience helped guide the RRBN to meet its FY22 End Strength Objectives during a national recruiting crisis.

    LTC Pearson’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Silver). He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff Course. LTC Pearson resides in Chesterfield, Virginia with his wife Amanda and sons Caleb, Noah, Liam and Eli.

  • CSM Donald Spring joined the Virginia Army National Guard as an Infantryman in 2003. He enlisted with Charlie Company, 3 rd BN, 116 th Infantry Division in Leesburg, VA. In January 2004, he attended OSUT at Fort Benning, GA (now Fort Moore). In July 2004, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2006, CSM Spring attended Air Assault School at Fort Pickett, Virginia (now Fort Barfoot). Additionally, in 2006, he attended Northern Virginia Community College.

    In June 2007, CSM Spring was called to active duty with C Co. 3/116 th again in supporting of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2008, he returned back to college, finishing his Associate Degrees in General Studies from Northern Virginia Community College. He was also promoted to Bravo Company, 3 rd BN, 116 th Infantry Division out of Woodstock, VA as a Team Leader. In January 2009, CSM transferred to George Mason University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice in 2011.

    In 2011, CSM Spring deployed to Iraq with Delta Company, 3 rd BN, 116 th Infantry Division in support of Operation New Dawn. Upon returning from that deployment in 2012, CSM Spring was assigned to Bravo Company, 3 rd BN, 116 th Infantry Division out of Warrenton, VA as a Squad Leader. In 2014, CSM Spring was promoted to Operations Company, 29 th Infantry Division out of Fort Belvoir, VA as an Operations Sergeant.

    In 2016, CSM Spring deployed to Jordan with the 29 th Infantry Division in support of Operation Inherent Resolve as an Operations Sergeant. Upon his return in 2017, he continued as an Operations Sergeant, eventually reaching the rank of Master Sergeant. In 2019, CSM Spring was selected as the First Sergeant for Bravo Company, 1 st BN, 116 th Infantry Division out of Lexington, Virginia.

    In 2021, he deployed to the Horn of Africa in supporting of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon his return in 2022, he was selected as the Command Sergeant Major of the 229 th Brigade Engineer Battalion out of Fredericksburg, VA. He has been the CSM of the 229 th BEB since February 2023. CSM Spring’s awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with Oak cluster), Air & Space Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Cluster), the Meritorious Unit Citation (with Star), the Afghanistan Campaign ribbon (with two stars), the Iraq Campaign ribbon (with two stars), the Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge, the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, and the Norwegian Foot March Badge. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army’s Sergeants Major Academy. CSM Spring currently resides in Nokesville, VA with his wife Rose, son Michael, daughter Aurora, a yellow Labrador Scout, and a chocolate Labrador Murphy.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fredericksburg-based 229th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Fredericksburg-based Echo Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th IBCT conduct helocast air insertions during the annual Warrior Stakes squad competition June 23-24, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, provided aviation support for a soldier’s reenlistment ceremony conducted by LTC Chandler Pearson.