Virginia National Guard

Cyber Fortress 2.0 tests Virginia's cyber response plan
August 10, 2023 — The Virginia National Guard hosted Cyber Fortress 2.0 from July 10-21, 2023, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The exercise brought together state and federal organizations who will respond in a real-world cyber incident and provided an opportunity to test Virginia’s cyber response plan and better prepare for future collective responses... MORE

91st Cyber Brigade leads Cyber Shield 2023
June 26, 2023 — In the early 2000s the Defense Department and the National Guard Bureau came to the quick realization that cyber threats were on the rise and attack frequencies were only going to become more prominent within the U.S. and abroad. In fact, the number of cyber threat actors increased in unimaginable numbers in which their methods of attacking became more dynamic and complex. In response, the Virginia National Guard activated the 91st Cyber Brigade in 2017... MORE

Senior leaders of 91st Cyber Brigade talk to each other

Governor commends VNG, families after year busy with mobilizations
December 7, 2022 — Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and the First Lady of Virginia Suzanne S. Youngkin hosted a reception for Virginia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and their families Dec. 4, 2022, at Virginia’s Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia, to recognize the families of those personnel who are currently on federal active duty deployments. ... MORE

Cyber Fortress exercise brings together federal, state, private sector partners
October 10, 2022 — Approximately 20 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen took part in the Cyber Fortress exercise with numerous public and private sector partners including Dominion Energy, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Department of Information Technology, the Virginia State Police and other local, state and federal organizations Sept. 21-30, 2022, in Richmond, Virginia... MORE

Virginia National Guard installation, brigade and battalion command selections announced
September 28, 2022 — The Adjutant General of Virginia announced officers who have been selected for command in the Virginia National Guard at the instillation, brigade and battalion level... MORE

Ceremony officially opens new headquarters for 91st Cyber Brigade
September 22, 2022 — Virginia National Guard senior leaders and Soldiers assigned to the 91st Cyber Brigade joined distinguished guests and former members of the unit at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 91st’s new headquarters building Sept. 16, 2022, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia... MORE

VNG's 91st Cyber Brigade makes history at Cyber Shield
June 29, 2022 — The Virginia Army National Guard’s 91st Cyber Brigade, the National Guard’s only cyber brigade, completed the congressional mandate of validating the mission capability of all 11 of its subordinate Cyber Protection Teams. This concludes a five-year training pipeline... MORE

VNG Soldiers conduct mountain warfare, tactical planning exchanges in Tajikistan
June 14, 2022 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Bowling Green-based 91st Cyber Brigade conducted a mountain warfare exchange and an advanced tactical planning exchange with soldiers from the Republic of Tajikistan May 16 - 20, 2022, in Romit, Tajikistan. ... MORE

VNG Soldiers conduct exchanges in Tajikistan

91st Cyber Brigade welcomes new commander
May 17, 2022 — Col. Rusty McGuire took command of the Virginia National Guard’s Bowling Green-based 91st Cyber Brigade from Brig. Gen. Teri Williams May 14, 2022, in Bowling Green, Virginia... MORE

VNG cyber protection battalion completes TF Echo mission
December 6, 2021 — The Virginia National Guard’s Fairfax-based 123rd Cyber Protection Battalion, 91st Cyber Brigade marked the end of their support for Task Force Echo with a transition of authority ceremony Dec. 1, 2021, at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland... MORE

Task Force Echo – America’s Citizen Cyber Warriors

Virginia National Guard Supports Bold Quest 21
November 20, 2021 — Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Virginia National Guard provided operational support to Joint Staff sponsored Coalition Capability Demonstration and Assessment event Bold Quest 21.2 at Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, Oct. 18 through Nov. 18, 2021. Units supporting the event included the 91st Cyber Brigade, 192nd Wing and 192nd Medical Group... MORE

91st Cyber Brigade Soldiers earn Ranger tab
August 31, 2021 — Two Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Bowling Green-based 91st Cyber Brigade recently proved cyber Soldiers’ worth beyond the keyboard by completing the U.S. Army Ranger School and earning the right to wear the Ranger tab on their uniforms... MORE

91st Cyber Brigade participates in Cyber Shield 21
August 11, 2021 — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fairfax-based 91st Cyber Brigade participated in Cyber Shield 21, the Department of Defense’s largest unclassified cyber defense exercise, July 10-23, 2021... MORE

Signal officer shares journey of transition, acceptance
June 16, 2021 — When Maj. Keilyn DiStefano started her military career in 1998, it was in a different state, under a different name, with a different gender assignment. Back then, she wasn’t herself... MORE

Once open transgender service was authorized in the military, Maj. Keilyn DiStefano said she was among the first transgender Soldiers to receive a memo authorizing her to comport to the standards of her affirmed gender.

124th CPB first VNG battalion with all-female staff
March 29, 2021 — FORT MEADE, Md. – For Lt. Col. Christina Perronie, Maj. Michele Spangler, Capt. Anabel Montano-Vargas, Capt. Katie Kerr and Capt. Vanessa Rodriguez, 2020 proved exceptionally memorable. These women, all assigned to the Fairfax-based 124th Cyber Protection Battalion, 91st Cyber Brigade, not only mobilized, but also comprised the first known all-female staff within the Virginia Army National Guard, as well as Task Force Echo... MORE

Archive by Year

News Archive by Category