DISA Global Field Command welcomes new leader
By Dawn Bonsell, DISA Public Affairs
July 29, 2025
Army Lt. Gen. Paul T. Stanton, DCDC commander and DISA director, passes the DISA flag to Army Col. Duane M. Williams.
Army Lt. Gen. Paul T. Stanton, Department of Defense Cyber Defense Command commander and Defense Information Systems Agency director, presided over the DISA Global Field Command change of command ceremony, July 21. The ceremony celebrated the command of Air Force Col. Michael T. McDaniel, who passed command to Army Col. Duane M. Williams on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
Stanton lauded McDaniel's leadership through "numerous world events, guiding his team through challenging times." The DISA Global team, under McDaniel, demonstrated a deep understanding of continuous modernization.
"Fostering a culture of innovation … that comes from leadership, Mick. The team has been empowered to execute, and it's been fun and inspiring to watch them knock down targets," Stanton said.
For his distinguished service as the DISA Global commander from July 18, 2023 – July 21, 2025, McDaniel received the Defense Superior Meritorious Service medal. During his command, McDaniel ensured the active defense and availability of over 42,000 telecommunications circuits, connecting more than 3,500 nodes at over 300 locations across the globe, from three geographically separated operations centers on the $24 billion global enterprise network. Additionally, his leadership was paramount in 23 named operation missions, superior management of 15,000 authorized service interruptions, 120,000 network incident tickets resolutions and two billion network intrusion blocks, all while being the only Defense Department agency supporting all 46 defense areas of operation. Finally, McDaniel ensured uninterrupted communications during the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Israel-Hamas crisis, enabling real-time coordination for combatant commands and senior leaders.
"Thank you for bringing awesome every day," McDaniel said to the DISA Global workforce, alluding to the 24/7/365 mission. McDaniel will remain on Scott Air Force Base as the AMC J-6, a consumer of the DISA services he knows best.
As Stanton welcomed Williams to the DISA team, he described the landscape. "This is a hard job. Things will break … every day … sometimes on Sunday evening. The enemy will attack more times than you can count. The world will change and with it, DOD's mission."
Williams joins DISA from Pentagon J-6. His previous assignments include operational and strategic communications units, 1st Armored Division, 35th Signal Command (forward) and the Cyber Center of Excellence, in addition to serving as the Aide-de-Camp for the Headquarters Department of the Army Inspector General. He also served as the communications officer of the 2nd of the 34th Field Artillery Regiment, in Gieseen, Germany, 1st of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia, and 2nd Infantry Division Camp Humphreys, South Korea.
DISA Global delivers and defends the Department of Defense Information Network, enabling the warfighter and mission partners to conduct continuous global operations. DISA Global encompasses three locations – Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Columbus, Ohio, and Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The command delivers over 40,000 optical fiber miles and circuits, defending over 250 billion blocks for four million accounts.