The U.S. Army’s 93d Theater Signal Brigade held a change of responsibility ceremony on Joint Base Langley-Eustis Thursday, February 13, 2025. Command Sgt. Maj. Jovan Velasquez relinquished responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Melanie R. Coronado.
Presiding over the ceremony was Colonel William M. Martin, Commander, 93d Signal Brigade. In his remarks, Col. Martin praised Command Sgt. Maj. Velasquez, calling him “the heart” of everything the brigade accomplished during his tenure.
“Though change has been constant in the last 2 years, you’ve remained steadfast and resolute to what you believe in, and that’s taking care of people, and accomplishing the mission the right way,” said Col. Martin.
Command Sgt. Maj. Velasquez concluded his time in the 93d by recognizing the outstanding efforts of the Brigade’s Soldiers and Civilians to maintain and defend the Army’s communications infrastructure across 13 States and Puerto Rico.
“The communications realm can be thankless and unforgiving at times,” said CSM Velasquez. “[I did not realize] what these hardworking men and women do routinely to keep the network up. They continue to grind and make the mission happen, and I’ve been fortunate to have a front-row seat to their success.”
Assuming responsibility as the Brigade’s highest enlisted Soldier is Command Sgt. Maj. Melanie R. Coronado. She is a native of South Miami, Florida and enlisted in the United States Army in May 2003 as a Signal Support System Specialist (25U).
“We are entrusted with a critical mission…it’s a responsibility that we don’t take lightly,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Coronado. “What sets this organization [apart] isn’t just what we do but how we do it. Over the past 2 weeks I have seen the passion, dedication, and commitment to excellence…and that passion is contagious.”
The 93rd Signal Brigade was originally constituted as the 93d Signal Battalion on 3 November 1941 and activated on 15 May 1942 at Camp Crowder, Missouri. 93d Signal Battalion departed New York aboard the Queen Elizabeth and arrived in England on 26 April 1944. Shortly after its arrival, The Battalion shipped out for France to support forces deployed to Normandy. 93d Signal Battalion served in Luxembourg for the duration of the Ardennes Campaign and deployed into Germany on 9 March 1945 until the end of the war.
On 22 December 1945, 93d Signal Battalion left Europe aboard the Texarkana Victory Ship en route to Hampton Roads, Virginia. Shortly after their arrival, 93d Signal Battalion was inactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia on 3 January 1946. 93d Signal Battalion was called back to active duty on 24 February 1955 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona and one decade later it was inactivated on 21 September 1972.
93d Signal Brigade was activated again in Germany on 16 March 1981. The Brigade then deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 with 7th (VII) Corps in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The unit deactivated along with 7th (VII) Corps after Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
In February 1998, 93d Signal Brigade was activated once again at Fort Gordon, Georgia, where it would remain for almost 10 years. Elements of the Brigade deployed multiple times in support of the Global War on Terrorism, particularly Operation Iraqi Freedom I, II, and III. 93d Signal Brigade was deactivated and reflagged as the 35th Signal Brigade on 16 April 2007. In 2008, 93d Signal Brigade would again call Fort Eustis, Virginia home, this time with a new mission as part of the newly formed 7th Signal Command (Theater).
93d Signal Brigade honors include Campaign streamers for participation in World War II, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, Southwest Asia, Defense of Saudi Arabia; liberation and defense of Kuwait; and the cease-fire ending Operation Desert Storm.
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