Army and Air Guard Cyber Guard 2015

Courtesy Photo | Airmen and Soldiers from the North Carolina National Guard train for Cyber Guard 15, conducting a "red vs. blue" cyber exercise with help from the Kansas Air National Guard (KAANG 177th Information Aggressor Squadron) acting as the opposing force. The NCNG Joint Cyber Defense Team defend a simulated mission-critical network from sophisticated network attacks conducted by members of the KAANG. Cyber Guard 15 is an exercise designed to defend Department of Defense information networks in the U.S. from disruptive or destructive cyber attacks. The exercise trains service members to rapidly detect and effectively respond to a destructive or disruptive cyber-attack impacting U.S. critical infrastructure. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Robert Felicio/Released)  

NC, UNITED STATES

06.12.2015

Story by Capt. Michael Wilber 

North Carolina National Guard

SUFFOLK, VA. – A team of Soldiers and Airmen from the North Carolina Army and Air National Guard Cyber Defense Team joined cyberspace and critical infrastructure operators from over 100 organizations, to participate in the fourth annual Cyber Guard exercise here, June 8 to 12, 2015, led by U.S. Cyber Command, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.

The exercise trains service members to rapidly detect and effectively respond to a destructive or disruptive cyber-attack impacting U.S. critical infrastructure. As a joint effort the exercise strengthens partnerships with government, allies and the private sector organizations, improving shared cooperation and situational awareness between these entities.

“NCNG maintains a Joint Cyber Defense Team, comprised of Army and Air National Guard personnel, which is available to, on order, support cyber emergencies within the state of North Carolina including the cyber defense of Critical Infrastructure within the state,” said Capt Joshua McDermott, Network Defense flight commander, 145th Combat Operations Group.

The Department of Defense’s Joint Force Development hosted Cyber Guard 15, with participants rehearsing a whole-of-nation response to destructive cyber-attacks against U.S. critical infrastructure that included military, federal, state, and local government agencies working in conjunction with private industry.

Cyber Guard 15 had participants from academia, industry, U.S. and foreign government organizations trained together to improve our forces ability to defend DoD information networks which defend the U.S. from disruptive or destructive cyber attacks.

McDermott continued, “North Carolina remains an ideal location to base Army and Air National Guard cyber protection teams, due to the wealth of talent available within NC industries such as our technology, banking and research sectors.”

Additional objectives of the exercise include building and maintaining ready forces and capabilities within the Department of Defense to conduct cyberspace operations.

Also, during the exercise the U.S. Cyber Command evaluates the proficiency and readiness of the Cyber Mission Force teams.

• Date Taken: 06.12.2015
• Date Posted: 08.04.2015 12:24
• Story ID: 172112
• Location: NC, US