FORT MEADE, Md -- Signal Intelligence teams from across the United States Army competed for the National Security Agency's (NSA) Director's Trophy, a symbol of excellence in the intelligence community for their hard work and contributions to security. On May 18, it was the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Signal Intelligence team that was awarded the gold at Fort Meade, MD.
The award, which has categories in each branch of the Armed Forces, is given annually to one unit that distinguishes itself above the rest with both their training and their real-world impact on ongoing operations. In his statement to the winners, U.S. Navy Admiral Michael Rogers, the former director of the NSA and commander of U.S. Cyber Command, said that the unit's work during Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Operation Resolute Support distinguished 3rd BCT's SIGINT Section above their peers.
"The SIGINT Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division clearly excelled at providing critical, time sensitive, unique, and innovative Signals Intelligence support to commanders and forces actively engaged in combat operations and sensitive missions, while simultaneously contributing to the satisfaction of Joint and National Signals Intelligence Information Needs," reads Rogers' statement.
Chief Warrant Officer Two Stephen Andre, the 3rd BCT SIGINT technician, said he was proud of the Soldiers in his section for the countless hours they put into the mission and into furthering themselves in the intel community. The Soldiers who make up Andre's SIGINT team and played a part in earning the NSA Directors Trophy are: Sgt. Kyler Kline, Sgt. Mitchell Haas, Sgt. Cianan Haigler, Spc. Sean Davis, Spc. Matthew Horvath, Spc. Ryan Vanderbilt, Spc. Amy Bittick, Spc. Dillon Jackson, and Spc. Noah Burley.
"Winning the award has facilitated increased dialogue between our Section and our Leadership as to how we, as a Section, can best support the warfighter while deployed," Andre said. "Our leadership transitioned away from 3rd Brigade after redeploying July 2017 and this award has sparked interest from all levels and echelons of new Leadership as to how we can support Brigade-level efforts moving forward."
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