Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 National Guard Defends the Cyber Front By National Guard Bureau Office of Public Affairs
 ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Guard is the nation’s oldest military service, yet uniquely adaptable to a relatively new warfighting domain: cyberwarfare. “The cyber skills that many members of the National Guard bring to the fight are unique within the Department of Defense and can be brought to bear in protecting the military’s own networks,” said George Battistelli, the exercise director for Cyber Shield 2022 and deputy chief information officer for the Army National Guard. “As current world events show, our ability to protect U.S. military networks and conduct hybrid warfare is crucial in protecting the nation as a whole,” he said during a June 7 media roundtable. More than 800 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, civilian experts, and other military services from throughout the nation are conducting the Cyber Shield exercise June 5-17 with partners from all levels of government at the Army National Guard Professional Education Center at Camp Joseph T. Robinson Maneuver Training Center, North Little Rock, Arkansas. Leaders from the Illinois, Kentucky, and Minnesota National Guard and the National Guard Bureau gathered in Virginia to talk with reporters about how the Guard defends against attacks and threats through Cyber Shield. An annual event, the focus of this year’s exercise is on the National Guard’s role in protecting Department of Defense computer networks. In addition to assisting outside agencies, the civilian-acquired skills many cyber Guard members possess help the military protect its networks against attacks. “When we talk about cyberattacks, whether it’s state-sponsored, independent criminals — we’ve all seen these attacks on not only some of our private infrastructure but our critical infrastructure at every state and department as well as within the Department of Defense,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard Neely, adjutant general and commander of the Illinois National Guard, and a master cyberspace officer. Neely described his own state’s experience with attacks. “The Illinois Board of Elections Network was attacked in 2016, as well as several other states,” he said. “As a result, the Illinois National Guard has been working closely with the Board of Elections in cyber defense.” The unique nature of Guard cyber defenders and the exercise is that they incorporate military, civilian and government agencies. Many of the Guard members have civilian careers in the cyber field, and the exercise incorporates military and civilian agencies. “Cyber Shield is special because it integrates all levels of government, tech, industry, law enforcement and other partners,” said Neely. “These military cyber warriors have a significant advantage over their active-duty counterparts, as they bring in those unique civilian-acquired skills and experiences in addition to their military cyber training.” Battistelli said the exercise goes beyond the cyber walls that defenders maintain. “For Cyber Shield, we’re really trying to train the defensive cyber operations personnel,” Battistelli said. “So, while they’re looking at whether devices are hardened, as they’re going through all of their scanning, they’re trying to determine where the boundary is and where they’re protecting.” Neely said being mindful of changes in the cyber domain will be key to future Cyber Shield success. “We will continue to evolve the exercise as the threat evolves,” he said.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Illinois National Guard
 Kentucky National Guard
 Minnesota National Guard
 National Guard Bureau
 cyber shield
 
 New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa
 By Eric Durr,
  National Guard-led Space Exercise Helps Build Programs for NATO Partners
 By Air Force Master Sgt. Erich B.Smith,
  Army National Guard Soldiers Train in Funeral Honors Program
 By A.J. Coyne,
  More
 Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise5/3/2024Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar5/2/2024Massachusetts Air Guard Airmen Test New Air Combat Tactics5/2/2024 View more Guard News »
 Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School5/3/2024
New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa4/30/2024
Pennsylvania National Guard Members Deploy to Africa4/19/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership5/3/2024

Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program5/3/2024

Enduring Partners 2024 Begins with Thai-US Airmen Exchange5/2/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil