U.S. Army SGM Developing Next-Generation Of Leadership
by U.S. Army Sgt. William Rogers
February 6, 2026

After more than two decades in uniform, U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Kevin Huff was ready to retire.

He was getting his retirement paperwork approved, and his family was settled in Colorado. His final days in the Army were slowly approaching.

Then the future of Army command and control caught his attention — and changed everything.

Today, Huff serves as the senior enlisted advisor for the reactivated 124th Division Signal Battalion, Division Artillery Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, a unit being stood up to support the Army’s transition to Next-Generation Command and Control (NGC2).

Instead of stepping away from service, Huff chose to stay — delaying retirement to help build a formation that could shape how the Army fights for decades to come.

“I didn’t feel like I had anything left to prove,” said Huff. “I just loved what I was doing, and I wasn’t ready to take the uniform off.”

A Career Built On Communication

Huff enlisted in July 2000 as a 31U Signal Support Systems Specialist — a “radio guy” by trade — and has spent his entire career in the Signal Regiment.

“In the units I grew up in, if it had anything to do with communications, you were the commo guy,” said Huff. “You had to make it work.”

That experience shaped his philosophy: every Soldier in a signal unit should be a communicator first, regardless of military occupational specialty. That mindset now drives how the 124th DSBn is being built — emphasizing adaptable, technically proficient teams rather than stove piped roles.

What’s Old Is New Again

The division signal battalion structure is not new. The 124th DSBn was previously deactivated in 2004 as the Army shifted signal units down to company-levels. But as operational demands change, the Army is returning to a division-centric communications model.

“What’s old is new again,” said Huff. “We’re bringing signal companies back together under a division signal battalion to better support how we fight today.”

The 124th DSBn is unique even among reactivated units. It is the only division signal battalion being stood up with NGC2 equipment, making it both a prototype and a test bed for the future force.

Choosing to Stay

Before joining the battalion, Huff served nearly two years as the 4ID G6 sergeant major, during which he became aware of NGC2 development.

“For the first time, I saw a truly integrated approach to how we field communications,” said Huff. “Not just pieces of a system — the whole thing.”

As retirement approached, Huff told his family and colleagues he wanted to stay involved with NGC2 in some capacity after leaving the Army. Then the division commander offered another option: stay in uniform and help stand up the battalion.

After conversations with his wife and family — all of whom were established and happy in Colorado — the decision became clear.

“They thought I was a little crazy,” Huff said with a laugh. “But they were supportive.”

Building A Battalion From The Ground Up

Huff joined the battalion in late October, along with Maj. Chad King, provisional battalion commander, 124 DSBn, DIVARTY, 4ID. The unit started operations with fewer than a dozen Soldiers and has been growing steadily as companies and equipment arrive.

“Together with the Division G6, Huff and I have worked tirelessly to figure out how the battalion best supports the division during Large-Scale Combat Operations,” said King. “Since October of 2025 we have gone from operating a few desks in the Division G6 to establishing four Signal Companies with over 200 Soldiers.”

Rather than waiting for full equipping, the battalion has emphasized on-the-job training, assigning every available piece of equipment to a mission.

“As soon as we get something, we put a team on it,” said Huff. “They learn it by doing.”

1st Sgt. Kie Wirth, A-Company 1st sergeant, 124 DSBn, DIVARTY, 4ID, said that when NGC2 was being introduced to the division, Huff took it upon himself to dive into the technology and learn as much as he could. In turn, he has been at the forefront of training Soldiers, making them experts in their field.

That approach has already paid off, with teams deploying rapidly to support corps-level and headquarters demonstrations. A pace Huff says reflects both the complexity and urgency of modern communications.

“We took four Soldiers — the highest ranking was a sergeant — and did something that used to require a chief,” said Huff. “That says a lot about this generation.”

Lessons From The Desert

Huff’s leadership philosophy is grounded in experience — including his first deployment to Kuwait in 2002, where he conducted retransmission missions with two-vehicle, two-Soldier teams operating independently in extreme heat.

“We knew how to set up radios and antennas,” said Huff. “But we learned everything else the hard way — water, food, load plans, weather, survival.”

Those early lessons now inform how the battalion trains its Soldiers, particularly junior noncommissioned officers who will lead four-person teams capable of deploying worldwide.

“No joke,” said Huff. “As a sergeant, those Soldiers are in your hands.”

People First, Always

When asked about his legacy, Huff doesn’t point to equipment, structures, or programs.

“It’s the people,” said Huff. “If I leave knowing I did everything I could to make the organization better and prepare Soldiers for the next level, that’s success.”

He believes today’s Soldiers are more capable than ever — learning faster, handling greater technical complexity, and shouldering responsibilities once reserved for senior leaders.

“Huff is a Soldier’s Soldier; he is exceptional at connecting with Soldiers and motivating them to be the best they can be,” said King. “He embodies the Army Values and lives the NCO creed day in and day out; the division and the battalion are lucky to have his leadership at the helm.”

Looking Ahead

Huff knows the battalion won’t get everything perfect. But perfection isn’t the goal.

“The goal is to set the foundation,” he said. “To show what a division signal battalion should look like and how the Army will fight in the future.”

For Huff, choosing to stay was already worth it.

“Even if I don’t get to finish it,” said Huff, “being part of building something new — that’s success.”

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