Yonkers-based National Guard battalion gets new commander during Camp Smith Ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 10

Media Advisory

Camp Smith Training Site, New York (09/08/2022) — The 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, headquartered in Yonkers, New York, with elements in Peekskill and Orangeburg, will get a new commander during a formal change-of-command ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site in Cortlandt Manor on Saturday, Sept. 10.

Lt. Col. Paul A. Mulligan, will replace Lt. Col. Michael J. Hastings, as the commander of the Expeditionary Signal Battalion, or ESB for short, which provides communication capabilities to the state during emergencies, and for our nation's forces in times of war.

Members of the press are invited to cover the ceremony.

WHO Lt. Col. Paul A. Mulligan, the incoming commander; Lt. Col. Michael J. Hastings, the outgoing commander; Col. Seth Morgulas, the Commander of the 369th Sustainment Brigade as the presiding officer; and leaders of the 53rd Troop Command and from around the state.

WHAT: A traditional change-of-command ceremony in which the colors, or flag, of the 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion will be transferred from the outgoing commander to the incoming commander. Traditionally the unit colors indicate the commander's location on the battlefield. The traditional military ceremony allows the Soldiers to see who they will follow in battle. Hastings will pass the unit's colors to Morgulas, who will in turn hand them to Mulligan, symbolizing the transfer of authority for the battalion.

WHEN: 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2022.

WHERE: Camp Smith Training Site, Cortlandt Manor. Enter via main gate on Bear Mountain Road. Media asked to arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. for escort and setup.

Coverage opportunities:

Still and video images of the ceremony. There will be an opportunity to interview both Hastings and Mulligan.

Members of the press must call Staff Sgt. Jonathan Pietrantoni at 516-655-1336 for access to this secure military facility. Press must have identification.

BACKGROUND

Lt. Col. Paul A. Mulligan

Lt. Col Paul Mulligan, who lives in East Greenbush near Albany, enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in May of 1999 and served as a Combat Medic, with Charlie Company, 2-108th Infantry Battalion. He later commissioned in the Signal Corps on May 18, 2003.

His past assignments include: Battalion S6 for the 642d Military Intelligence Battalion; Executive Officer for the 42d Infantry Division Network Support Company (NSC); Commander, Charlie Company 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB); Network Operations Officer then Deputy G6 for the 42d Infantry Division; and the Deputy Chief Information Officer (CIO) - G6 Joint Force Headquarters - New York.

Mulligan is a graduate of Siena College, where he majored in Computer Science, and a minored in Psychology. He is currently completing studies for his Masters in Cybersecurity from Excelsior University.

His military education includes Signal Officer Basic Course, Captains Career Course, and the Command and General Staff College.

Mulligan's awards include Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

He has also earned the German Armed Forces Badge, the Bronze Order of Mercury and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF III, 2004-2005) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF, 2012-2013).

Lt. Col. Michael J. Hastings

Lt. Col. Michael J. Hastings recently returned from a deployment to the Middle East with the 42nd Infantry Division, where he served as the Division G6, which is the designation of the chief information officer. Hastings led design, operation and security of tactical and strategic communication networks across the Task Force Spartan area of operations.

In civilian life, Hastings, who lives in Mechanicville, near Albany, held vice president positions in Information Technology, Cyber Security and Risk Management at Bank of America and Berkshire Bank Corp.

He currently works as a cyber security advisor for the Department of Homeland Security, Critical Infrastructure Security Agency.

Hastings was commissioned as a second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and joined the New York Army National Guard in 2009.

Hastings served as a battalion mortar platoon Leader and rifle company executive with the 27th Infantry Brigade, Joint Force Headquarters G6 Plans Officer and Division G6 Tactical Headquarters officer-in-charge in Staten Island, New York.

From 2012 to 2013 Hastings deployed with the 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion to Afghanistan in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom as officer-in-charge of network operations and information assurance officer.

Hastings' awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

Hastings holds a master's in business administration in Technology and Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional.

His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Air Assault Course, Signal Captain Career Course, and the Army Command and General Staff College.

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