The U.S. Army Signal School welcomed a new commandant and Chief of Signal during a change of responsibility ceremony on July 15.
Col. James D. Turinetti IV relinquished his responsibilities as commandant and the 41st Chief of Signal to Col. Paul D. Howard.
Brig. Gen. Paul T. Stanton, Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon commanding general, presided over the ceremony.
Turinetti was called to serve with U.S. Central Command after being at the Signal School just shy of one year. And while his tenure was brief, his impact, Stanton said, will last well into the future.
“To be candid, it’s hard to gain traction in a year … for most people, that would mean holding tight on the reigns, staying on the trail and keeping the organization from imploding, but that’s not Jim Turinetti,” Stanton said.
Turinetti’s dedication to the Signal Corps led to achieving “measurable outcomes” at a pivotal time of transformation.
“Our MOS convergence is well on its way … handing satellite control responsibility over to the Space Force, who is now on Fort Gordon, the visual information responsibility over to public affairs, optimizing how our Soldiers are postured for the future fight … Jim has set the conditions and set us on the right path for what we refer to as the Army of 2030,” Stanton said.
Describing his role with the Signal School as “humbling,” Turinetti expressed gratitude for everyone who supported him and the Signal Regiment, adding that it was an exciting time to be at Fort Gordon and part of the Regiment.
“It’s bittersweet to go through a ceremony like this and to think back on all the changes that you wish you would’ve been able to make in just a short period of time, but I know Paul will be able to continue that as we move forward with shaping the Regiment,” Turinetti said.
Howard, a native of Blakely, Georgia, most recently served as executive officer to the Army G-6. No stranger to Fort Gordon, Howard’s signal career began at Fort Gordon in 1990 when he completed Advanced Individual Training.
“I’m pretty sure that my old barracks is now my office,” Howard joked.
Reflecting on his time in service, Howard said it was great to be back in Georgia and that he was ready to pick up where Turinetti, a close friend of his, left off.
“This is where my parents taught me to work hard, it’s where Lisa and I first started our marriage, it’s where Lucas and Madeline learned how to walk,” Howard said. “If I’m prepared for this job at all, it’s the result of great leadership and mentorship. I owe a lot of people credit for getting me here.”
In Turinetti’s mind, there is no doubt that Howard is the perfect professional for the job.
“Coming from the position of the executive officer G-6, he knows the path forward,” Turinetti said, adding that Howard has “the patience of Job, intellect of a three-star general, and a great family.”
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