Commanding the Airwaves: U.S. Army Radio Innovations from 1898 to 1918

Mr. Dirk D. Ringgenberg is an Assistant Professor at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in the Department of Military History and doctoral candidate in History at Iowa State University. Mr. Ringgenberg received his BA in History from Columbus State University, Masters in Military Arts and Science from CGSC and currently is currently finishing his dissertation on the acquisition and implementation of wireless / radio into the US Army 1898-1918. Dirk published and collaborated on several military history articles including the 2008 Army History J. Lawton Collins Award Winning “The Battle of Bulac Kalay.” Dirk retired a Major with a distinguished military career spanning 24 years.  He is a highly decorated (Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor and Legion of Merit) Infantryman with 10 years’ service enlisted and non-commissioned officer and 14 years as an officer with notable service in the 75th Ranger Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division and 173rd Airborne Brigade.  Dirk completed numerous courses, schools and deployments.  His combat service includes Desert Shield /Storm in 1990/91, Iraq 2003/04, Afghanistan 2005/06, Iraq 2009/10. Dirk and wife, Michelle (Beauregard) Ringgenberg live in Lansing, Kansas with son, Hunter (15).

The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.