U.S. Army Signal Center, Regimental Signal Corps, Fort Gordon receive new commander

By Staff Sgt. Wilson A. Rivera 359th Theater Tactical Signal BrigadeJuly 27, 2010

U.S. Army Signal Center, Regimental Signal Corps, Fort Gordon receive new commander
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Alan R. Lynn, incoming commander, Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth commanding General, and Brig. Gen. Jeffrey W. Foley, outgoing commander, inspect the troops during a change-of-command ceremony h... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Signal Center, Regimental Signal Corps, Fort Gordon receive new commander
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT GORDON, Ga. (21 July 2010) -Presiding over three positions, the U.S. Army Signal Center commandant, Regimental Signal Corps' chief of signal, and Fort Gordon's commanding general, were transferred through a change-of-command ceremony held July 21 at Barton Field in Fort Gordon, Ga.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey W. Foley, who is retiring after 32 years of service, stepped aside as Brig Gen. Alan R. Lynn assumed command. To communicate commands to the formations on the field and demonstrate the Signal Corps' historic and important role in the Army and nation's history, semaphore flags were used during the change-of-command ceremony.

Presiding over the ceremony was Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, who is the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, Kan., commanding general, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College commandant, Combined Arms-U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command deputy commanding general, and Joint Center for International Security Force Assistance director.

"One of our Army's greatest strengths is that every time we lose an outstanding leader another steps forward to assume that role," said Caslen. "Alan is a proven leader who brings a vast wealth of operational institutional experiences with him. I'm certain he will serve this regiment, installation, and this community with honor as their new commander."

The Lynn's previous position was with the 311th Theater Signal Command at Fort Shaftner, Hi. As commander, he brought the command to an operational capability then reengineered and created an enterprise for all Pacific networks and systems.

"The Signal Corps at Fort Gordon will be the centerpiece of a dramatic change in our Army as we quickly begin a change from a combat enabler and a combat multiplier, to a combat weapon system where all systems are tied together through networks," said Lynn during his opening address as the 35th Chief of Signal. "The speed and precision of our weapons systems do to our networks will be unmatched, and our cyber warfare capabilities will only continue to increase as we stand up Cyber Command."

Lynn is a distinguished military graduate from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the California University of Pennsylvania, Pa., with a degree in English. In 2000, he was awarded a Masters Degree in National Resource Management from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

He first commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery Officer and served as a Chaparral and Stinger platoon leader, air defense fire support officer and C Company executive officer, 1-51st Air Defense Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, Fort Ord, Calif. He later transferred to the Signal Corps. Combat deployments include Desert Shield and Desert Storm serving as the 1st Infantry Brigade signal officer, with the 101st Airborne Division. Lynn commanded the 13th Signal Bn., 1st Calvary Division, Fort Hood, Texas, during combat operations in Bosnia. He later took command of the 3rd Signal Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, and deployed the brigade in 2004 to 66 locations in Iraq, creating the largest communications network in Army history.

His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral five device, NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medals, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, parachutist and air assault badges.