Praetorian News

780th MI Brigade (Cyber), Praetorian Change of Command Ceremony

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. – Maj. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, commanding general, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), presided over a change of command ceremony whereby Col. Candy Boparai, relinquished her command of the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), Praetorians, to Col. Benjamin H. Klimkowski, on the McLachlin Parade Field, July 14, 2026.

In a ceremony steeped in Army tradition, Soldiers, Family, and friends gathered to say farewell to the outgoing commander and her Family while also bidding a warm welcome to the incoming commander and his Family.

Lt. Col. Matthew D. Heinmiller, the brigade deputy commander, served as the commander of troops, and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Daniel, the brigade’s senior enlisted leader and ‘keeper of the colors’ stood with the brigade color guard, along with the Soldiers representing the brigade’s four major subordinate commands, the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber); 782d MI Battalion (Cyber); 11th Cyber Warfare Battalion (CWB); and the Operations Support Element – a brigade with more than 1,500 personnel operating from four states (Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland and Texas) supporting multiple Army and joint commands.

AvengerCon X is back in Maryland!

June 30, 2026

LAUREL, Md. – AvengerCon X is a free security event targeted at personnel supporting Department of War cyberspace missions and returns to Maryland for the event’s special 10th anniversary at the Kossiakoff Center, located on the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory campus, June 30 and July 1, 2026.

Today’s attendees got a head start by joining hands-on workshops such as CNO Tunneling and Tradecraft by Kleared4, From Pins to Pwnage – Practical Exploitation and Automation by Zeiter.com, and Offensive AI Tools and Techniques.

Praetorian Brigade Command Chief Warrant Officer James Richards retires after 24 years of Army service

May 14, 2026

WASHINGTON – Command Chief Warrant Officer 5 James Richards, formerly the Command Chief Warrant Officer for the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), retired after more than 24 years of Army service in a Department of the Army Retirement Ceremony in Conmy Hall on the historic installation, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, May 14, 2026.

CW5 Richards hails from Glendora, California, and enlisted into the 311th Theater Signal Command, U.S. Army Reserve on March 20, 2002, at Fort George G. Meade Military Entrance Processing Station. Richards received his commission as a second lieutenant from the U.S. Officer Candidate School on December 4, 2002; and attained a BA in Computer Science from Cornell University in 2002. He resigned his commission and received a direct appointment as a warrant officer on August 18, 2006, while serving in the Delaware Army National Guard.

Staff Sgt. Joshua Van Buskirk, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber) 2026 Best Squad Competition

March 18, 2026

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. – Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Van Buskirk, a 35N, Signals Intelligence Analyst, serves in the 781st Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion (Cyber), Vanguard, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, and he is the squad leader for the squad which competed and won the 780th MI Brigade (Cyber) Best Squad Competition held March 3 to 5, 2026. Van Buskirk’s squad will represent the brigade at the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command BSC, April 15 to 21, 2026.

Staff Sgt. Van Buskirk is also the brigade’s 2026 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

According to the U.S. Army Best Squad website (https://www.army.mil/bestsquad/), the competition assesses “each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team.”

Detachment-Hawaii, Hyperion 6 hosts change of responsibility ceremony

March 5, 2026

By 1st Lt. Jan Leo Ras, Detachment Hawaii, 782nd Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber)

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii – Army Maj. Jacob Curtis, commander, Detachment-Hawaii (Hyperions), 782d Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber), hosted the Change of Responsibility between outgoing First Sgt. (1SG) Nevada Henricksen, and the incoming senior enlisted leader, 1SG Christopher Steiner, at the Main Post Chapel, March 5.

In attendance were the 782d MI BN (Cyber) Command Team, Lt. Col. Matthew Hutchison and Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Lopez, and the Soldiers, Civilians, and Family members of the Detachment-Hawaii o’hana.

Hackathon V – A cyber and computer challenge event for young people

November 19, 2025

ODENTON, Md. – Soldiers and Civilians from Fort George G. Meade hosted the last of the three Hackathon events – a program intended to encourage teen interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), specifically in cybersecurity – at the Odenton Regional Library, Anne Arundel County Public Library.

This is the fifth year the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber) hosted Hackathon, and although there was a government furlough, the brigade and garrison Soldiers, all volunteers, flawlessly conducted the events on October 7 and November 4 (the first fall event was held September 22).

The Brigade-sponsored Hackathon centers around a CTF (capture-the-flag) competition, which for the past three seasons has been designed by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Joshua Wellman. The CTF is a ‘cyber exercise’ where participants search for flags, using a variety of techniques including reverse engineering, decryption, netcat, and ssh keys; and at the four other stations, completing those challenges contributes to their overall CTF score.

11th Cyber Battalion Change of Command

June 25, 2025

FORT GORDON, Ga. – Soldiers, Civilians, friends and family bade farewell to Lieutenant Colonel Luis (Lou) A. Etienne Jr., the outgoing commander of the 11th Cyber Battalion, Leviathans, and welcomed Lt. Col. Charles E. Suslowicz, their new battalion commander, in a ceremony hosted by Colonel Candy Boparai, commander, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), on Barton Field, June 25.

In a ceremony steeped in Army tradition, Soldiers representing the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Hellhound; A Company, Apex; B Company, Bandits; and C Company, Capybara, stood in formation to pay their respects to both the outgoing and incoming battalion commanders.

11th Cyber Battalion “Leviathans” “Global Reach, Global Impact!”

April 23, 2025

The Army’s primary purpose is conducting land combat operations to defeat enemy ground forces and seize, occupy, and defend land areas, while also supporting four strategic roles for the joint force. The Army’s strategic roles are shape operational environments, counter aggression during crisis, prevail during large-scale combat operations, and consolidate gains. Additionally, the land domain is one of the most complex environments where “the most distinguishing characteristic of the domain is the human element… (and) controlling terrain, infrastructure, and populations require Soldiers to operate in the midst of political, economic, social, and religious tumult.” To successfully win in this complex environment it requires Soldiers, leaders, and units to have the requisite knowledge, skills, and attributes that can overcome ambiguity and chaos. Those skills and knowledge also ensure the forces provided to a combatant commander gives them multiple options to meet and overcome any challenges. The Soldiers and leaders within 11th Cyber Battalion have those unique skill sets and knowledge that contributes winning in a complex environment.

Army Cyber Capability Developers and Cyber Warfare Battalion collaborate on drone dominance

July 9, 2026 sharethis sharing button

By Spc. William Perez, Cyber Capabilities Developer, Hardware Section, CSD-Maryland, Operations Support Element, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber)

FORT GORDON, Ga. – Developers from the Hardware Section of CSD-Maryland (Cyber Solutions Development), 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), recently collaborated with developers from the 11th Cyber Warfare Battalion’s CSD-Tactical on a project to increase the Army’s drone warfare capabilities.

The project, which spanned more than a year, aligns with the Army’s “Transforming in Contact” initiative, which aims to modernize the battlefield by rapidly delivering new technology into the hands of Soldiers. Drone warfare has become one of the most significant battlefield innovations in recent years, with several countries scrambling to develop increasingly advanced drone technology following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

781st MI Battalion (Cyber), Vanguard Change of Command

June 18, 2026

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. – COL Candy Boparai, commander, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), hosted a change of command ceremony whereby LTC Scott A. Beal, commander, 781st Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber), Vanguard, relinquished his command to LTC Daniel S. Hawthorne, on the Parade Field, June 18.

As the Vanguard Battalion’ companies stood in formation, in the time honored tradition of the United States Army, fellow Soldiers, friends and Family members gathered to bid farewell to one command team and welcome the another.

The 781st MI Battalion (Cyber), whose motto is Ubi Ceteri Non Possunt, Latin for ‘When Others Cannot’, presents the resources and capabilities from across the Army enterprise to man, train, and equip the Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF) to execute cyberspace operations to achieve operational outcomes against the adversaries of the United States.

782nd Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber) – In Review

April 10, 2026 sharethis sharing button

Photos by SGT Clayton Franks, cryptologic linguist and public affairs liaison, 782d Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber)

FORT GORDON, Ga. – The 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber) is headquartered at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. Officially activated on June 7, 2013, the 782nd Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber), also referred to as the Cyber Legion, is a subordinate unit within the brigade and operates from Fort Gordon.

Building on its core identity, the battalion’s motto is “Silent Victory,” and the unit maintains operational detachments in Hawaii and Texas.

In line with their mission, the battalion and the brigade support U.S. Army Cyber Command by conducting full‑spectrum cyberspace operations across all domains. ARCYBER sets the land domain through the cyber domain, ensuring the United States and its allies maintain freedom of action in cyberspace and the information environment while denying the same to adversaries.

To emphasize the significance of this work, LTG Christopher Eubank, commanding general of ARCYBER, stated, “None of this happens without our greatest asset, our people.”

11th Cyber Battalion hosts HHC, Hellhounds, Change of Command

March 11, 2026

By Cpl. Teanna Dooley, 11th Cyber Battalion

FORT GORDON, Ga. – Soldiers, Civilians, friends, and Family gathered to honor Capt. (CPT) Cutosha Dilworth, outgoing commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), Hellhounds, and to welcome CPT John Kuhn as the incoming commander during a ceremony hosted by Lt. Col. (LTC) Chuck Suslowicz, commander of the 11th Cyber Battalion, at Darling Hall, March 11.

The ceremony featured a formation composed of the noncommissioned officers in charge from each battalion staff section, representing the leaders who support HHC’s daily operations. CPT Dilworth also asked the officers in charge (OIC) to stand from the crowd in recognition of their contributions, noting, “Everyone standing up here represents the backbone of our Battalion Staff.”

11th Cyber Battalion Executes Hellhound Week to Sharpen Warrior Skills

February 17, 2026

By Cpl. Teanna Dooley, public affairs liaison, 11th Cyber Battalion

FORT EISENHOWER, Ga. – Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 11th Cyber Battalion, Hellhound, conducted Hellhound Week to demonstrate their commitment to readiness, discipline, and warrior proficiency, February 4 and 5.

The training event was as a comprehensive assessment of Soldiers’ Level 10 Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills that align with the company’s Mission Essential Task List (METL) and Expert Soldier Badge (ESB) standards.

Army Principal Cyber Advisor Visits U.S. Army’s Only Offensive Cyber Operations Brigade

August 8, 2025

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MD – Mr. Brandon Pugh, the U.S. Army’s Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of the Army, visited the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber) on August 6. The brigade is the Army’s sole offensive cyber operations unit, playing a pivotal role in national defense and cyber warfare.

The visit followed Mr. Pugh’s three-day trip to U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) headquarters at Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he received briefings and engaged directly with ARCYBER’s top talent.

“The 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber) is on the frontline of defending our nation and conducting cyber operations,” said Brandon Pugh, the Army’s Principal Cyber Advisor. “The brigade is an invaluable component of the United States’ cyber enterprise. My visit to the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber) was an extraordinary opportunity to meet Soldiers conducting these important cyber operations and to see its unique capabilities firsthand.”

Vanguard Army 250 Exhibit celebrates generational service to our Nation

May 23, 2025

The Army’s 250th birthday is June 14, 2025, and since 1775 the Army's motto is “This We’ll Defend”. For 250 years, Army Soldiers and Civilians have served our nation.

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. – Members of the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber), Vanguard, have contributed their personal memorabilia to create an Army 250 Exhibit that spans back to the Revolutionary War to showcase their service – and their Families' service – in defending our country.

AvengerCon X is a wrap for 2026

July 3, 2026

AvengerCon is a Hacker Con for Department of War Personnel

LAUREL, Md. – AvengerCon X, the free cyber event specifically for personnel supporting the Department of War cyberspace operations, returned to Maryland for the Con’s 10th anniversary at the Kossiakoff Center on the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory campus, June 30 and July 1, 2026.

AvengerCon is hosted by volunteers from the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), the Praetorians, to benefit the hackers of the U.S. Cyber Command and the DoW. The event features presentations, a hacker village, training workshops, and there was also an AMA-sanctioned FPV Drone Race.

Operations Support Element Change of Command Ceremony

June 15, 2026

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. – Col. Candy Boparai, commander, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), hosted a change of command ceremony whereby Lt. Col. Michael Krogh, commander, Operations Support Element, relinquished his command to Maj. John Rollinson at the Post Theater, June 15.

Although the first Cyber Solutions Development Detachment (CSD) was formally established in July 2017, the Operations Support Element, 780th MI Brigade (Cyber) is a new Army organization having been officially approved by the Department of the Army in July 2023 and formally recognized as the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) Operations Support Element (OSE) on March 1, 2024.

OSE elements build, sustain, and provide teams to support the Cyber Mission Force’s offensive cyberspace operations, develop operational capabilities, and enable utilization of cyberspace operations infrastructure.

Spc. Kiari Amerson, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber) 2026 Best Squad Competition

March 18, 2026

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. – Army Spc. Kiari Amerson, a 35N, Signals Intelligence Analyst, serves in the 781st Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion (Cyber), Vanguard, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, and he was in a squad which competed and won the 780th MI Brigade (Cyber) Best Squad Competition held March 3 to 5, 2026. Amerson’s squad will represent the brigade at the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command BSC, April 15 to 21, 2026.

Spc. Amerson is also the brigade’s 2026 Soldier of the Year.

Vanguard sweeps the Brigade Best Squad Competition

March 12, 2026

FORT A.P. Hill, Va. – Soldiers representing three of the four battalions under the command of the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), Praetorians, competed in the brigade’s 2026 Best Squad Competition (BSC) March 3 through 5.

Soldiers from the 781st MI Battalion (Vanguard); 782d MI Battalion (Cyber Legion); and the Operations Support Element, competed to represent the Praetorians at the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command BSC, April 15 to 21.

The brigade’s fourth battalion, the 11th Cyber Battalion (Leviathan), completed their BSC in February and will represent the Leviathans at the U.S. Army Cyber Command BSC later this year.

11th Cyber Battalion Change of Responsibility

October 3, 2025

FORT GORDON, Ga. – Soldiers, Civilians, friends, and Family bade farewell to Command Sgt. Maj. (CSM) Keyne A. Smith, the outgoing command sergeant major of the 11th Cyber Battalion, Leviathans, and welcomed CSM David Herrera Jr., their new senior enlisted leader and ‘keeper of the colors’, in a ceremony hosted by Lt. Col. (LTC) Charles E. Suslowicz, commander of the 11th Cyber Bn., in Darling Hall, October 3.

LTC Suslowicz told the gathering that the Change of Responsibility ceremony was an important day in the history of the 11th Cyber Bn. as it commemorated the extraordinary service of CSM Smith, “who has guided this battalion with an uncompromising commitment to our Soldiers,” and welcomed a new senior enlisted leader, CSM Herrera, who would now take on that “solemn” responsibility.

Army principal cyber advisor commends ARCYBER innovations in electromagnetic and cyberspace dominance

July 29, 2025

FORT GORDON, Ga. — The Army's top cyber strategist, Mr. Brandon Pugh, principal cyber advisor to the secretary of the Army, concluded a landmark three-day visit to Army Cyber Command Headquarters in late July, signaling strong support for the command's forward-thinking approach to cyber readiness and modernization.

A key highlight of Mr. Pugh's visit was his in-depth engagement with the capability developers from the 11th Cyber Battalion, who showcased a range of innovative, in-house engineered devices tailored to meet the unique operational needs of the expeditionary cyber teams. These demonstrations featured customized solutions designed to bridge target network connections and identify adversary emitters across the battlefield.

Cyber Legion Change of Command Ceremony

June 4, 2025

FORT GORDON, Ga. – The 782d Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber), Cyber Legion, marked a significant transition of leadership during a change of command ceremony held on Barton Field, June 4.

Senior Leaders, family, friends, and Soldiers of the Cyber Legion gathered to bid farewell to outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Kirklin Kudrna, and welcomed the incoming commander, Lt. Col. Matthew Hutchison. The ceremony, steeped in tradition, formally transferred responsibility for the unit’s vital cyber mission, ensuring continued readiness and dominance in the information environment. Presiding over the event was the commander of the 780th MI Brigade (Cyber), Col. Candy Boparai, who lauded Lt. Col. Kudrna’s leadership and expressed confidence in Lt. Col. Hutchison’s ability to lead the 782d MI BN forward.