National Guard unit gets new commander

By STEVE RANSON

Appeal News Service

A Dayton man assumed command Sunday of the Nevada Army National Guard's 422nd Signal Battalion, a state-of-the-art communications unit responsible for more than 600 soldiers in three states.

New commanders were also assigned last weekend to two companies, the 150th Maintenance Co., with headquarters in Carson City and 1st Company, 189th General Support Aviation Battalion located at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Stead.

The battalion's new commander is Lt. Col. Jeffrey P. Hansen, an 18-year member of the Nevada Army National Guard. He received his basic combat training at Ft. Knox, Ky., and his advanced individual training at Ft. Rucker, Ala. Hansen entered Nevada's Officer Candidate School in 1990 and graduated one year later.

After commissioning, Hansen attended the Signal Officer Basic and Advanced courses and graduated in 2004 from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer Course.

"Colonel Hansen's role as a staff officer has been amazing," said Maj. Gen. Cindy Kirkland, the Adjutant General. "He steps forward and makes things happen."

Hansen has served as the deputy military personnel officer since 2005. Brig. Gen. Frank Gonzales, commander of the Army Guard, said he is looking forward to working with Hansen.

"Command is not an easy job, and we only select the best," Gonzales said.

Gonzales also recognized Lt. Col. Pete Menicucci, the outgoing commander who served in that position for three years.

"I like what he did," Gonzales said. "He had battalion annual training and took as many of the 640 soldiers to the field at Hawthorne and trained them like they were going to war. He mentally dedicated himself to be a soldier."

Menicucci was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the University of Nevada's Reserve Officer's Training Corps program in 1988. He attended the Signal Basic Officer Course before going on active duty.

He joined the Nevada Army National Guard in 1997. During his military career, he spent 10 years with the signal battalion.

During his tenure as commander, the signal battalion transformed from a cold-war communications unit to one ready to fight wars in the 21st century.

Last October, the unit became an Expeditionary Signal Battalion with companies in three states: Nevada, Arizona and Alabama. The ESB is the only National Guard communications unit west of the Mississippi River and is one of only six of the specialized battalions in the National Guard inventory.

Kirkland said every soldier in the battalion will miss Menicucci. She said soldiers will miss his aggressiveness, his passion and dedication to taking the battalion to the next level.

"To have the opportunity to serve as a commanding officer, especially at the battalion level, is significant in a military career," Kirkland said.

Gonzales also presented Menicucci with the Meritorious Service Medal and the Bronze Order of Mercury awarded by the U.S. Army Signal Regiment.

Capt. Shawn Bromley assumed command of the aviation unit. The Carson City resident enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps 1990 and later joined the Iowa National Guard in 1994. He was commissioned through the ROTC program at the University of Northern Iowa.

He transferred to Nevada in 2003 and was assigned to D Company 113th Aviation which served a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

1st. Lt. Beau Vinatieri of Las Vegas assumed command of the maintenance company from another Las Vegas resident, Capt. Amy Klima.

The 150th Maintenance Co., also has a detachment in Las Vegas.