Task Force Echo II: Army National Guard Cyber Task Force Completes Transition

Photo By Steven Stover | FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md – The 780th Military Intelligence (MI) Brigade (Cyber) hosted an unprecedented transition of authority (TOA) ceremony between two Army National Guard (ARNG) formations whereby one cyber battalion transitioned with another to continue the Task Force Echo cyberspace mission, on a field near the brigade headquarters, April 19.  

FORT MEADE, MD, UNITED STATES

04.19.2018

Story by Steven Stover 

780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber)

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md – The 780th Military Intelligence (MI) Brigade (Cyber) hosted an unprecedented transition of authority (TOA) ceremony between two Army National Guard (ARNG) formations whereby one cyber battalion transitioned with another to continue the Task Force Echo cyberspace mission, on a field near the brigade headquarters, April 19.

For the past year Task Force Echo (TFE) has worked with the 780th MI Brigade to conduct cyberspace operations in support of U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) and the Cyber National Mission Force. The Task Force is aligned under the 780th MI Brigade, which falls under the operational control of U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER).

The outgoing TFE formation, the 123rd Cyber Protection Battalion (CPB), ARNG, was comprised of more than 140 Soldiers from seven states – California, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Utah and Virginia.
The second iteration of TFE consists of ARNG Soldiers assigned to TFE 125th CPB, and these cyber warriors hail from Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.

“Task Force Echo is an opportunity not only for the nation, but for the National Guard to step up and meet an ever growing challenge, that is a worldwide challenge,” said Maj. Gen. R. Van McCarty, the Assistant Adjutant General – Army, South Carolina National Guard. “We see it every day, the potential impacts that we face in the cyber arena. Having young Soldiers that are trained and prepared to help meet those challenges is important.”

The TFE mobilization is historic in that it marks the first ARNG task force mobilization of this size to support USCYBERCOM operations full time, and is a testament to the Army’s commitment to the Total Force in defense of networks against the Nation’s adversaries.

In the past year, the Soldiers of TFE 123rd CPB have completed more than 38,000 hours of technical training and supported more than 1,500 ARCYBER and USCYBERCOM missions. As a result of their proven success the Department of Defense extended the TFE mission, which resulted in the transition of the current formation of ARNG Soldiers with a new team of cyber warriors.

“(On) the 15th of March, the Secretary of Defense approved the extension – the establishment of the next iteration of Task Force Echo. It has never been done in that fashion before…never happened for a CONUS-based unit,” said Brig. Gen. JP McGee, the deputy commanding general of operations for U.S. Army Cyber Command. “When we properly articulated the role you (TFE) play…he understood the unique contributions of this organization.”

Col. Dave Branch, commander of the 780th MI Brigade, summed up the accomplishments of the 123rd CPB and the importance of the TFE mission at the TOA event.

“Task Force Echo relies on Soldiers with diverse technical backgrounds. They come with the extensive experience that only comes from working in defensive cyberspace positions throughout the private sector and in the completion of the extensive training required to be a cyber warrior,” said Branch. “During a recent awards ceremony, Brig. Gen. JP McGee made mention of how important it would be for the departing Soldiers of Task Force Echo to take back with them, all of the valuable lessons learned from their time here at Fort Meade. I second that sentiment, for it is only through continuous collaboration on the singular purpose of protecting our Nation, that we will ultimately prevail against those who would seek to do us harm.”

The incoming and outgoing task forces are part of the 91st Cyber Brigade. The 91st Cyber Brigade is the Army National Guard’s first and only cyber brigade and first unfurled its colors in September 2017. According to their mission statement, the brigade provides training, readiness and oversight of all ARNG Cyber Protection Battalions in order to provide ready, fully resourced, and proficient forces capable of conducting cyberspace operations in support of state and federal requirements. The brigade, comprised of Soldiers in thirty states, conducts cyberspace and information operations as authorized or directed to ensure freedom of action in and through cyberspace and the information environment and to deny the same to any adversary.

Col. Adam Volant, the outgoing TFE 123rd CPB commander, will command the 91st Cyber Brigade, and along with the other departing Soldiers of the first iteration of TFE, will form the nucleus of state assigned cyber protection teams and fall under the newly activated ARNG unit based out of Bowling Green, Virginia.

• Date Taken: 04.19.2018
• Date Posted: 04.26.2018 13:45
• Story ID: 274650
• Location: FORT MEADE, MD, US