Distinguished Visitors visit Cyber Shield 18

103rd Public Affairs Detachment
Story by Spc. Michael Hunnisett

Date: 05.16.2018
Posted: 05.18.2018 08:09
News ID: 277483
Distinguished Visitors visit Cyber Shield 18

Some of the most senior leaders of the Nations cyber community gathered at Camp Atterbury, Indiana on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, for Distinguished Visitor Day during Cyber Shield 18, the premiere Army National Guard cyber training event.

Over 200 distinguished visitors observed the exercise, attended informational briefings and a forum to discuss emerging topics of cyber security. The forum covered multiple topics, which include preparing the National Guard and Reserve to fill evolving roles in the new and challenging cyber landscape.

The day was an opportunity for the Army National Guard to showcase its cyber capabilities. The visitors observed Defensive Cyber Operations Elements conducting defensive cyber operations in an exercise designed to test National Guard response plans to real-world incidents.

“I think it’s a phenomenal exercise,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen Fogarty, Commander, U.S. Army Cyber Command. “I walk away from here impressed, once again, with the commitment and capability of our National Guard and Reserve forces.”

Cyber Shield 18 is the seventh iteration of this training exercise and this year unites the Army National Guard with members of the Air National Guard, Army Reserve, and civilians from private companies, state government agencies, federal agencies, industry partners, and academia.

“I think Cyber Shield is a huge event, I would consider it to be the Super Bowl of cyber events for our team,” said Col. Corey Halvorson, Director of Information Management, Montana National Guard. “It’s really a validation of the training that has been done throughout the year and now they can come out here and show that in fact it does work, this is how it works, and that this is real life.”

The annual exercise, held from May 6-19, brings together more than 800 soldiers, airmen, and civilians from 40 states and territories to test their skills in response to cyber incidents.