The 91st Cyber Brigade stood up on Sept. 17 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to oversee cyber units across 30 states, according to the head of the Army National Guard.

Lt. Gen. Timothy Kadavy, director of the Army National Guard, joined Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe and adjutant general of Virginia Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams for the activation ceremony.

“We’ve really jumped into the deep end of improving cyber capability within the Army National Guard,” Kadavy told Army Times. “So I’m excited to see how we grow within that area over the next 12 months.”

The 91st Cyber Brigade will help the training readiness of the Guard’s cyber units, he said. Soldiers will also be deployed to meet the demands of growing cyber missions throughout the United States.

The Virginia National Guard brigade was reflagged from the 91st Troop Command, and the 123rd Data Processing Unit was split into the 123rd and 124th Cyber Protection Battalions.

Approximately 950 Army National Guardsmen are in the new brigade, spread across units in 30 states. Each of the cyber protection battalions will have a cyber security company, a cyber warfare company and two cyber protection teams.

The headquarters will have about 25 personnel, with each company consisting of about 35-40 people.

They will conduct vulnerability assessments, cyber analysis and defensive cyberspace operations on military networks, among other duties.

The concept to have a designated cyber brigade within the National Guard was presented in June 2016 and approved in February.

Charlsy is a Reporter and Engagement Manager for Military Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.

Share:
In Other News
Load More