Major General Stephen J. Hager was commissioned in 1987 as a Signal Corps Officer. As an active duty officer he served as Platoon Leader and Executive Officer for Alpha Company, 742nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 704th Military Intelligence Brigade at Fort Meade, Maryland. During Operation Desert Storm he served as the System Control Officer, S-3, 13th Signal Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. Upon return, he was assigned to the National Security Agency as a Senior Electrical Engineer in the microelectronics advanced research group. Deployed in Operation Restore Hope, he was assigned as the Communications Officer, CENTCOM J-2 Forward in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Major General Hager left active duty, and joined the Army Reserves in 1995. While in the 91st Division, his assignments included Battle Command Staff Simulation Officer, Company Commander, Observer Controller, G-2 Security Officer, and G-3 Plans Officer. He commanded the 319th Expeditionary Signal Battalion and the 2nd/100th Signal Training Brigade.
Mobilized in 2013, he deployed to Afghanistan as the Deputy Commander for the 335th Signal Command (Theater) (Provisional). In Afghanistan, he was responsible for all Architecture, Design, Engineering and Installation of the strategic communication network as well as oversight of communications commercialization projects. He most recently deployed to Kuwait as the Chief of Staff for the 335th Signal Command (Theater)(Provisional) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. In March 2015, he was selected as the Deputy Commanding General for the 335th Signal Command (Theater) in East Point, Georgia. In his previous assignment before coming to CNMF he was dual hatted as the Army Central Command G-6 and the 335th Signal Command (Theater)(Provisional) Commanding General, where he ran the Army’s portion of the DODIN in Southwest Asia.
Currently, Major General Hager is dual hatted as the Deputy Commander for Operations, Cyber National Mission Force, and the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, USCYBERCOM.
His military education includes the Army Signal Officer Basic Course, Advanced Cryptologic Management Course, Signal Officer Advanced Course, Observer/Controller Course, Mobilization Planners Course, The Combined Arms Services Staff School, the Army Command and General Staff College, the Battalion/Brigade Pre-Command Course, and the Army War College.
Major General Hager’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (sixth award), the Army Commendation Medal (second award), the Army Achievement Medal (third award) and various other campaign and service ribbons. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and a Master’s of Science Degree in Engineering Computer Science from Santa Clara University. He also received a Master’s of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.