111th ATKW hosts Lithuanian Leaders during Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Photo By Staff Sgt. Wilfredo Acosta | Lithuanian Vice Minister of Defense, Mr. Margiris Abukevičius, presents Pennsylvania Air National Guard Lt. Col. Thomas Love, Commander, 112th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, with a coin at Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania, Oct. 28, 2022. Joining Abukevičius were his advisor, Mr. Tadas Sakunas, and Embassy of Lithuania representatives Ms. Monika Koroliovienė, Defense Counselor, and Master Sgt. Valdas Kačerauskas, Deputy Defense Attaché. The Lithuanian delegation was accompanied by Pennsylvania Air National Guard Col. Donald O’Shell, Director of Staff, PAANG; Army National Guard Maj. Christine Pierce, Cyber Defense Branch Chief, Pa. Army National Guard; and PANG Capt. Nathaniel Curtis, State Partnership Program Coordinator, to a briefing and discussion about strategic planning, cyber defense and areas of future cooperation. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Wilfredo Acosta)  

HORSHAM, PA, UNITED STATES

10.28.2022

Story by Jonathan Dahms 

111th Attack Wing

Cyber defense was the focus when leaders from the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense and Embassy of Lithuania met with leaders and cyber defense professionals from the Pennsylvania National Guard during a visit to the 111th Attack Wing at Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania, Oct. 28, 2022, where they discussed strategic planning, cyber defense and areas of future cooperation.

Lithuanian Vice Minister of Defense, Mr. Margiris Abukevičius, and his advisor, Mr. Tadas Sakunas, were joined by Ms. Monika Koroliovienė, Defense Counselor, Embassy of Lithuania, and Master Sgt. Valdas Kačerauskas, Deputy Defense Attaché, Embassy of Lithuania, during a visit to the 112th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, a subordinate unit of the 111th ATKW.

The Lithuanian delegation was greeted at Biddle ANG Base by Pennsylvania Air National Guard Lt. Col. Thomas Love, Commander, 112th COS. Accompanying the delegation was Col. Donald O’Shell, Director of Staff, PAANG; Maj. Christine Pierce, Cyber Defense Branch Chief, Pa. Army National Guard; and Capt. Nathaniel Curtis, State Partnership Program Coordinator, PAANG.

“The purpose of this visit is to further the security cooperation efforts between Lithuania and Pennsylvania in support of the State Partnership Program,” said Love. “We’re always looking at ways we can train and work together to improve our interoperability and cyber defense capabilities.”

The Lithuanian delegation toured cyber defense facilities at Biddle Air National Guard Base and were briefed Love and the other members accompanying the visit and connected to cyber defense and the State Partnership Program.

• Date Taken: 10.28.2022
• Date Posted: 10.31.2022 14:35
• Story ID: 432336
• Location: HORSHAM, PA, US