106th Signal Brigade welcomes new commander at change of command ceremony

By Stephen SatkowskiAugust 18, 2022

Col. Tia Benning relinquished command of the 106th Signal Brigade to Col. Joseph Gardner at a change of command ceremony July 29 on Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Presiding over the ceremony was

Brig. Gen. Charles R. “Rob” Parker, Commanding General of the 7th Signal Command (Theater) and Deputy Commanding General of NETCOM passes the colors to Col. Joseph Gardner during the 106th Signal Brigade Change of Command ceremony.
Brig. Gen. Charles R. “Rob” Parker, Commanding General of the 7th Signal Command (Theater) and Deputy Commanding General of NETCOM passes the colors to Col. Joseph Gardner during the 106th Signal Brigade Change of Command ceremony. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Brig. Gen. Charles R. “Rob” Parker, Commanding General of the 7th Signal Command (Theater) and Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Command (NETCOM).

In his remarks, Brig. Gen. Parker said under Col. Benning’s leadership, the 106th continued its long record of success, providing outstanding support to Army, Department of Defense and federal organizations. He also remarked the Brigade was recognized numerous times for outstanding performance and achievement, all the more notable for doing so during a global pandemic.

“Tia took command at a time which was really challenging, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that we’ve all worked through,” said Brig. Gen. Parker. “Her leadership was tested during this time and like any other probably in her career, she did an outstanding job bringing her organization through these past years and bringing it to a better place, and I’m confident they are all better for this experience.”

For both 2020 and 2021, the 106th Signal Brigade, 56th Signal Battalion, and all of their Network Enterprise Centers were awarded the Army Safety Excellence Streamer Award, and Brigade personnel won NETCOM Civilian of the Year. In 2021, two Soldiers from the 106th won the 7th Signal Command Best Warrior Competition, and another Soldier won the Top Recruiting and Retention NCO Award.

Col. Benning said she was grateful for the team of Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians, and contractors who served the 106th under the unique and challenging conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“You were gracious and patient and you embraced me as your commander even as I provided guidance over the last two years essentially via email, Microsoft Teams calls, VTCs, and late night cell phone calls,” said Col. Benning. “I will never forget our time together as tropic communicators.”

The 106th Signal Brigade’s new commander, Col. Joseph N. Gardner, entered U.S. Army active duty in 1989. He received his commission as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Army Officer Candidate School in 2001. He is a graduate of the Joint and Combined Warfighting School, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Signal Officer Basic and Advance Courses, and Security Assistance Management Course and an alumnus of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Senior Fellows program, as the Army G-3/5/7 Fellow for 2015-2016.

His command assignments include Commander, 54th Signal Battalion, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait for 23 months; 15 months as Commander, HHC 2d Brigade Combat Team (Stryker) and 18 months as Commander, 556th Signal Company, 2d Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), 25th Infantry Division.

Col. Gardner thanked Colonel Benning for the warm welcome and great transition, and for stabilizing the foundation of the 106th. He said he looks forward to his new responsibilities as commander.

“I welcome the challenge of ensuring every installation in this command’s footprint has the digital connectivity to serve as a power projection platform and command and control node for the Army,” said Colonel Gardner.

The 106th Signal Brigade operates 17 Network Enterprise Centers, which support mission partners across 15 States from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, as well as Florida and Mississippi—and 22 foreign countries. It has over 1,300 Soldier, Civilian, and Contractor personnel; supports 170,000 Army personnel; and manages $750 million worth of property and equipment.