Yonkers-based signal battalion conducts change of command at Camp Smith on Saturday, Feb. 27

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, NY (02/25/2021) (readMedia)-- 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, Feb. 27.

Lt. Col. Michael J. Hastings, a resident of Mechanicville near Albany and a veteran of the Afghan War, will take over command from Lt. Col. Ian J. Seagriff, Staten Island resident.

Members of the press are invited to cover the ceremony.

WHO: Lt. Col. Michael J. Hastings, the incoming commander; Lt. Col. Ian J. Seagriff, 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. Seagriff will pass the unit's colors to Morgulas, who will in turn hand them to Hastings, symbolizing the transfer of authority for the battalion.

WHEN: 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2021.

WHERE: Camp Smith Training Site, Cortlandt Manor. Enter via main gate on Bear Mountain Road. Media asked to arrive no later than 12:00 p.m. for escort and setup.

Coverage opportunities:

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

Members of the press must call Sgt. Sebastian Rothwyn at 917-767-7998 for access to this secure military facility. Press must have identification and wearing of face masks will be required.

BACKGROUND

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's 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 has held vice president positions in Information Technology, Cyber Security and Risk Management at Bank of America and Berkshire Bank Corp. He currently serves as Branch Chief of Network Operations in Latham NY for the New York Army National Guard.

Commissioned as a second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Hastings re-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 information systems plans officer and 42nd Infantry Division information systems 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.

Lt. Col. Ian Seagriff

Lieutenant Colonel Ian Seagriff began his military career in 1992 after enlisting in the United States Marine Corps.

He served in both the Active and Marine Corps reserves before joining the New York Army National Guard (NYARNG).

Seagriff was commissioned in 2003 through the Officer Candidate School Program, and has served in infantry and armor units.

He has served as a platoon leader in the 1st Battalion 101st Cavalry, a Company Commander in the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, and as the Operations Officer for the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry and 42nd Infantry Division.

Seagriff deployed to Khowst, Afghanistan in 2007 as part of Embedded Training Team supporting the training of the Afghan National Army. He deployed again in 2018 as Battalion Commander of the 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, operating out of Kuwait with Soldiers stationed across five other countries in the region to provide communications support.

Seagriff was most recently activated for COVID-19 response for missions in support of the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Service Medal, the NATO Medal and several other federal and state military awards.

Seagriff is a graduate of City University of New York with a degree in Economics. He works full-time as a Fire Fighter with the FDNY, and lives on Staten Island, New York with his wife Tara and their two children, James and Riley.

101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion

The 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion provides and manages satellite communications and information systems support to combat forces across a military theater. Their support includes network operations and management of the electromagnetic spectrum. Signal support encompasses designing, installing, maintaining, and managing information networks; to include communications links, computers, and other components of local and wide area networks.

Soldiers belonging to the battalion plan, install, operate, and maintain voice and data communications networks that employ single and multi-channel satellite, tropospheric scatter, terrestrial microwave, switching, messaging, video-teleconferencing, visual information, and other related systems. They also integrate tactical, strategic and sustaining base communications, information processing and management systems into a seamless global information network that supports knowledge dominance for Army, joint and coalition operations.

The unit deployed to Afghanistan in September 2012 and provided communications support to American and coalition forces, returning home to New York in June 2013.

The 101st Signal Battalion has also provided support during New York weather emergencies, most recently on March 14-15 when the governor called out National Guard troops to help in the aftermath of a northeaster storm.

Most recently, the 101st ESB served nine months in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield, providing communications support for more than a dozen operating sites in some seven countries across the Middle East as part of the coalition effort to defeat the Islamic State, also known as ISIS.