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

Colonel Richard D. I. Becker, a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, was commissioned as a Signal Corps Second Lieutenant from the University of Southern Colorado’s Mountain Ranger ROTC Battalion in 2003.

Before taking command of the 21^st Theater Signal Brigade, Colonel Becker served as the G6 & Chief Data Officer for the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, where he led enterprise modernization efforts and provided global communications, network integration, and secure information capabilities to support intelligence operations worldwide.

His career reflects a broad mix of tactical, operational, and strategic assignments in both Signal and Cyber leadership roles. These include serving as the G3 for the 311th Theater Signal Command at Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Cyber and Signal Analyst in HQDA G-8 Program Analysis & Evaluation; Commander of the 54th Signal Battalion at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait; and Partner Engagements Branch Chief in the Joint Staff J6. He also served as Aide-de-Camp to the Army G-6, Assistant Executive Officer to the CECOM Commanding General, Brigade S3 for the 15th Signal Brigade, Battalion Executive Officer of the 551st Signal Battalion, and Commander of the 275th Signal Company. Additional assignments include roles with the 8th Theater Sustainment Command, 84th Engineer Battalion, and 25th Infantry Division.

Colonel Becker deployed with the 84th Engineer Battalion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07 and later commanded the 54th Signal Battalion in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (7th Award); Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award); Army Achievement Medal (4th Award); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Iraqi Campaign Medal (2 Campaign Stars); Operation Inherent Resolve Medal (1 Campaign Star); National Defense Service Medal; Korea Defense Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; and he has earned the Combat Action Badge.

Colonel Becker’s military education includes the Signal Officer Basic Course, Signal Captains Career Course, Brigade Combat Team S6 Course, Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Naval War College. His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Southern Colorado; a Master of Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) through ISC2.

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.

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.