Praetorian News

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.

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.

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.

Echoes of influence: Saying farewell to 1st IO

May 12, 2025

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — The story of the 1st Information Operations Command is a testament to how innovation in warfare often starts quietly – drawn out on butcher boards in briefing rooms and SCIFs (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) – by people who see what others don’t yet recognize.

From the sands of Iraq to the digital battlefields of today, its members helped pioneer Army Information Advantage.

Inactivation of Army’s only active-duty information operations command

AvengerCon IX returns to the Augusta Georgia Cyber Center

February 27, 2025

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber) hosted AvengerCon IX, a cyber-con, and the theme was “the intersection of government, industry, and academia in support of advancing cybersecurity,” February 26 and 27 at the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center.

AvengerCon is a free security event hosted by volunteers from the 780th MI BDE to benefit the hackers of the U.S. Cyber Command and Department of Defense. The event is targeted at personnel supporting DoD cyberspace missions, but others are welcome to attend. AvengerCon features presentations, hacker villages, training workshops, and much more (https://avengercon.com/mission).

Praetorians place top two in ARCENT Best Cyber Warrior virtual category

November 18, 2024

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. – Cyber warriors from the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), Praetorians, were recognized for their recent achievements at the Tenth U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) Best Cyber Warrior (BCW) competition, November 18.

The Brigade’s competitive CTF (Capture the Flag) team, the “Speculatores”, and “Professor Chaos Computing Club”, CSD-Maryland (cyber solutions development), won 1st and 2nd place in the online competition, securing 2nd and 3rd overall (combining both online and in-person events).

Praetorians “Everywhere and Always…In the Fight!” Change of Command

June 24, 2024

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. – Maj. Gen. Timothy D. Brown, commanding general, United States Army Intelligence and Security Command, hosted a change of command ceremony whereby Col. Benjamin F. Sangster relinquished his command of the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), Praetorians, to Col. Candy Boparai in a ceremony on McGlachlin Parade Field, June 21.

In a ceremony steeped in Army tradition, the Soldiers representing the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (Hastati); 781st Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion (Vanguard); 782nd MI Battalion (Cyber Legion); 11th Cyber Battalion (Leviathans); Operations Support Element; and Task Force Echo, 126th Cyber Protection Battalion, Army National Guard; stood in formation to bid farewell to their departing commander and to welcome a new one.

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.

Attracting top talent and building relationships

January 13, 2025

Army cyber unit’s commitment to community engagements and Army recruiting

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. – The Soldiers and Civilians of the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), the Praetorians, embrace opportunities to talk to the American people and support Army outreach and recruiting efforts to inspire (or educate) others to join the United States Army.

The Praetorian Soldiers and Civilians are ideally positioned to assist Army outreach and recruiting efforts as the brigade has a footprint in four U.S. states – Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, and Texas – and although there are more than 200 ways to serve in the Army, the brigade represents military occupational specialties that most Army recruiters are unable to explain in depth.

Cyber Legion is your Praetorian Best Squad for 2025

September 16, 2024

FORT WALKER, Va. – Soldiers representing the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber), Vanguard; 782d MI Battalion (Cyber), Cyber Legion; and the 780th MI Brigade (Cyber) Operations Support Element, competed this week for the honor of Brigade Best Squad, September 11 - 13.

The 782d Cyber Legion squad is the 2025 Brigade Best Squad and consists of Staff Sgt. Tate Parmenter, squad leader, 35N, signals intelligence analyst, D Company, 782d MI Battalion; Sgt. Keaton Posey, team lead, 35N, B Co., 782d MI BN; Spc. Sean Sobik, 35P, signals intelligence voice interceptor, D Co., 782d MI BN; Spc. Sean Striedel, 17C, cyberspace operations specialist, D Co., 782d MI BN; and Spc. Joseph Yope, 35N, D Co., 782 MI BN.

Staff Sgt. Parmenter is the Brigade’s NCO of the Year for 2025 and Spc. Sobik is the Brigade’s Soldier of the Year for 2025, making it a clean sweep for the Cyber Legion.

Vanguard Battalion bids a bittersweet farewell to a beloved leader

March 7, 2025

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. – The Soldiers and Civilians of the 781st Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber), Vanguard, and 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), Praetorians, bid a bittersweet farewell to Command Sergeant Major Jermaine Ocean, who relinquished his responsibility as the battalion’s senior enlisted leader and “keeper of the colors”, and this ceremony also served as his retirement ceremony after 25 years of faithful and dedicated service to our Nation.

The ceremony also recognized Command Sgt. Maj. Ocean’s Family, as they too have sacrificed and served our Country in their own special way.

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

November 22, 2024

ODENTON, Md. – Soldiers and Civilians from the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), Praetorians, hosted the Hackathon IV event in partnership with the Anne Arundel County Public Library to encourage teen interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) at the Odenton Regional Library, November 19.

Although a relatively small event – the library caps registration at 25 – the Praetorian volunteers have never turned away a walk-in, and the young people benefit from a more personalized training and educational event since there are always ten or more volunteers.

Momentous activation of Army unit to meet the threats and challenges of the future battlefield

July 11, 2024

FORT EISENHOWER, Ga. – Lt. Col. Luis Etienne, commander of the 11th Cyber Battalion (Leviathans), 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), hosted an activation ceremony for “Charles” Company (Capybara), 11th CY, in the Eisenhower Conference and Catering Center, July 11.

“What a momentous occasion… for several reasons. First and foremost, activation of Charlie Company means that now all 4 companies in 11th Cyber Battalion are active,” said Etienne. “This signifies the final phases of our efforts to get to full build and achieve full mission capability. As the Army modernizes its capabilities and force structure to meet the threats and challenges of the future battlefield, Alpha, Bravo, and now, Charlie Company, with the support of HHC (Headquarters and Headquarters Company), stand ready to help the Army and the Joint Force win throughout the conflict continuum.”