21st Signal Brigade

Mission

The 21st Signal Brigade conducts network operations for theater-based LandWarNet communication systems, networks, and enterprise services providing information services support to warfighters, intergovernmental, interagency and civil authorities to enable full spectrum operations.

 

The 21st Signal Brigade is a major subordinate command of the 7th Signal Command (Theater). The original 21st Signal Group was constituted on 22 June 1965 in the Regular Army as the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 21st Signal Group and activated on 1 September 1965 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The unit was headquartered at Nha Trang, South Vietnam and provided area signal communications support throughout 10,000 square miles of area I and II of the Corps tactical zones. The unit also saw action throughout thirteen campaigns during the Vietnam War and received the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The Unit went inactivated on 27 November 1971 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Then on 16 October 2003 the Unit was reactivated and designated the 21st Signal Brigade, headquartered at Fort Detrick, Maryland.
 

The 21st Signal Brigade’s mission is to provide Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4) systems support to the President, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense, Combatant Commanders and other Federal Agencies. To establish, operate, protect, and sustain the Army's CONUS (Continental United States) strategic portion of the Global Information Grid. To protect and provide for the well-being of our people. The Brigade is headquartered at Fort Detrick, Maryland and has three subordinate battalions: the 114th Signal Battalion located at Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Adams County, Pennsylvania; the 302d Signal Battalion headquartered at Fort Detrick, Maryland; and the 56th Signal Battalion headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

History

The 21st Signal Brigade is a major subordinate command of the 7th Signal Command (Theater), Fort Gordon, Georgia. The original 21st Signal Group was constituted on 22 June 1965 in the Regular Army as the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 21st Signal Group and was activated on 1 September 1965 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 21st Signal Group provided area signal communications support throughout 10,000 square miles of the I and II Corps tactical zones in South Vietnam, participated in 13 campaigns during the Vietnam War from 1966-1971, and was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation (1966-1968). It was inactivated on 27 November 1971 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Effective 16 October 2003, the 1108th Signal Brigade at Fort Detrick, Maryland was re-designated the 21st Signal Brigade. In January 2010, Headquarters, Department of the Army awarded the 21st Signal Brigade the Army Superior Unit Award (2008-2009).

Leadership

 

Commander

21st Signal Brigade Fort Detrick, MD

COL John L. Sanders

 

 

 

 

Colonel John Sanders is a native of Portland, Oregon. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 2001 through a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Central Washington University following three years in the Army Reserves. He has a Baccalaureate in Geological Sciences and a Master of Arts in Information Technology Management from Webster University. COL Sanders entered active service as Signal Officer in 2001 where he was sent to the Signal Officer Basic Course (SOBC) at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

He has served in key leadership and staff positions including: Platoon leader 1-43rd Air Defense Artillery Battalion (PATRIOT) at Suwon Air Base, Battalion Communications Officer in 3-320th Field Artillery in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Iraq, Company Commander 501st Special Troops Battalion 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, and the Secretary of the General Staff for the United States Army Signal Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon. He also served as a Small Group Leader and Basic Officer Leader Course Manager at Fort Gordon, Chief of Operations for the 1st Signal Brigade in the Republic of Korea, Battalion Operations and Executive Officer for the 304th Signal Battalion (Expeditionary) in the Republic of Korea, the Branch Chief for Cyberspace Operations at the United States European Command Joint Cyberspace Center, Battalion Commander for the 63rd Signal Battalion (Expeditionary), and most recently the Signal Branch Chief at Human Resources Command.

His military education includes SOBC at Fort Gordon, Air Assault School Q-west in Iraq, Captains Career Course at Fort Gordon, Command and General Staff College at Fort Belvoir, Post-MEL 4 Interagency Fellowship, and Joint Combined Warfare School (JPME II) at the Joint Forces Staff College in Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads. He is currently and Army War College fellow to the University of Pittsburgh.

His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, the Air Assault Badge, and the German Efficiency Badge.
 

 

Command Sergeant Major
21st Signal Brigade Fort Detrick, MD
Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Cesar Ruiz

 

Command Sergeant Major Ruiz (CSM) is a native of Hollister, California and enlisted in the United States Army as a Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator. He attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

His previous duty assignments include the 304th Signal Battalion, Camp Colbern, South Korea; 385th Signal Company, Camp Doha, Kuwait; Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division, Al-Mosul Airfield, Iraq; 72nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Taylor Barracks, Germany; 2-47th Infantry Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia; 173^rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), Caserma Del Din, Italy; 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), 46th Aviation Support Battalion, and 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; 112th Signal Battalion (Special Operations) (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina; United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas; Headquarters, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Panzer Kaserne, Germany; 54th Strategic Signal Battalion, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait; and Headquarters, 7th Signal Command (Theater), Fort Meade, Maryland. He has deployed twice in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, once in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and once in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. He has also deployed in support of operational and contingency missions throughout the European, African, and Central Command theaters of operation.

CSM Ruiz has graduated from the following military courses: the Primary Leadership Development Course, 25Q Advanced Leaders Course, 25W Senior Leaders Course, United States Army Sergeants Major Course, United States Navy War College Senior Enlisted Academy, Drill Sergeant School, Army Basic Instructor Course, Common Faculty Development-Instructor Course, Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, Air Assault Course, Basic Airborne Course, Advanced Airborne Course (Jumpmaster), Pathfinder Course, University of Pennsylvania Master Resilience Training and Facilitator Courses, Combative Level 1 and 2 Courses, Army Force Management Course, Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course, and Pre-Command Courses. His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from the University of Maryland, a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Workforce Development from the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and a Master of Business Administration from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Air Assault Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and Drill Sergeant Identification Badge.

His foreign awards and decorations include the British Army Parachutist Badge, Dutch Army Parachutist Badge and Vierdaagse Cross, French Army Parachutist, Master Parachutist, and Commando Badge, Italian Army Basic and Master Parachutist Badges, Spanish Army Parachutist Badge, Romanian Parachutist Badge, Norwegian Military March Badge, and the Luxembourgian International March of Diekirch Medal. 

CSM Ruiz is a recipient of the TRADOC Sergeant Audie Murphy Award, USAREUR Sergeant Morales Award, National Infantry Association Order of Saint Maurice, and Signal Corps Regimental Association Bronze Order of Mercury.

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

21st Signal Brigade Fort Detrick, MD

Mr. Jason M. Winterle

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Winterle joined the 21st Signal Brigade team in November of 2022 following over 27 years of comprehensive experience in information technology, communications systems, and cyberspace operations. His experience includes serving as the Commander’s Action Group (CAG) lead for JFHQ-Department of Defense Information Networks (JFHQ-DODIN) and the director of the CAG at USCYBERCOM. He also served as Director of Operations at DISAPAC, serving as the technical expert on all telecommunications, information technology, and services management matters in the USINDOPACOM AOR, to include networks, systems and service, execution of Network Operations (NETOPS) and information assurance.

Mr. Winterle is a former Battalion Commander/CIO of the 114th Signal Battalion, Raven Rock Mountain Complex, the organization responsible for all communications and IT support to The President, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, DoD, and other federal agencies located at RRMC, the primary backup facility for The Pentagon. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Case Western Reserve University, and a Master's Degree in Information Systems from University of Maryland Global Campus.
Mr. Winterle is married to Dr. Kyla Newbould and has three children.