780th Military Intelligence Brigade (United States)

780th Military Intelligence Brigade
Active	2011
Country	United States of America
Type	Brigade[1]
Role	Cyber Operations
Garrison/HQ	Fort Meade, Maryland
Nickname(s)	780th MI Brigade
Website	780th MIB Home Page
Commanders
Current Commander	Colonel Brian Vile [2]
Command Sergeant Major	Command Sergeant Major James Krog [2]
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 780th Military Intelligence Brigade conducts signals intelligence and cyberspace operations to create operational effects in and through the cyberspace domain to gain and maintain freedom of action required to support the Army and Joint requirements while denying the same to our adversaries. ^[3]

History

Our Story: 780th Military Intelligence Brigade ^[4]

• The history of the 780th Military Intelligence (MI) Brigade dates back to 1998, when the 704th MI Brigade was tasked to develop a computer network operations force for the Army. In June 1998, B Company, 742nd MI Battalion answered that call.
• In June 2000, Detachment Meade, 742nd MI Battalion was established to sustain the growing need for an Army computer network operations force. Detachment Meade was re-designated as the Army Network Warfare *Detachment in 2007 and later as the Computer Network Operations Task Force. In June 2008 the Task Force was again re-designated as the Army Network Warfare Battalion (Provisional). The following year the battalion moved beyond its provisional status and was designated the 744th MI Battalion (Army Network Warfare Battalion).
• In December 2010, the Army approved the establishment of a cyberspace operations brigade, and on October 1, 2011, the 780th MI Brigade was organized. Subsequently, the 744th MI Battalion was re-designated as the 781st MI Battalion and re-organized under the new brigade. The 780th MI Brigade officially unfurled its colors for the first time during a ceremony at Fort. Meade, Maryland on December 1, 2011.
• The brigade began building a second battalion headquartered at Fort Gordon, Georgia in 2011 culminating with the stand-up and designation of the 782nd MI Battalion in June 2012. Detachments Texas and Hawaii were organized as part of the 782nd MI Battalion in 2013 and 2014 respectively giving the brigade a footprint in four states in support of multiple operational headquarters.
• In July 2017, the 780th MI Brigade established the Cyber Solutions Development Detachment. The Detachment takes its place as the newest addition to the brigade focused on innovative solutions across the spectrum of cyberspace operations.
• On August 15, 2017, Task Force Echo, a unit composed of U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers from seven states, officially began their training to become an integral part of U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) under the 780th MI Brigade.
• In six short years, the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade’s mission has increased in scope, scale, and complexity. The unit is known among ARCYBER, U.S. Cyber Command, and senior Army leaders as a world class cyberspace operations force capable of providing a ready force, developing capabilities required to meet expanding requirements, and delivering effects at the time and place of the operational commanders’ choosing.

Culture

According to the previous 780th Military Intelligence Brigade's commander Colonel Jennifer G. Buckner, the Brigade fosters a "Google-like culture of innovation" where, unlike most of the military, "rank and position mean very, very little". She stated, "some of the unit’s most competent cyberwarriors started the job with no formal intelligence training or technical education"—the Brigade is responsible for recruitment and training—emphasizing the meritocratic nature of the workplace.^[5]

Subordinate units

The 780th Military Intelligence Brigade consists of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 781st MI Battalion, and the 782nd MI Battalion. ^[6]

• The 781st Military Intelligence Battalion (Vanguard), officially activated on July 2, 2008 under the former name of the Army Network Warfare Battalion, is headquartered at Fort Meade, Maryland. In October 2011, the battalion was re-designated the 781st MI Battalion and assigned to the newly activated 780th MI Brigade in the culmination of over ten years of work to establish the Army’s cyberspace operations capability. ^[7]
• The 782nd Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber Legion), officially activated on June 7, 2013, is headquartered at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and works in collaboration with the 706th Military Intelligence Group. Under the command of the 782nd MI Battalion, operational detachments are employed in Texas and Hawaii. ^[8]
• In May 2014, the 780th MI Brigade became the operational arm for an Army Cyber Command program to integrate cyberspace operations at the Army’s combat training centers. Since then, the brigade has pioneered the Army’s effort for cyberspace operations in support of maneuver forces and shaped the future of how the Army will fight and win in cyberspace. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

See also

• Military Intelligence Corps (United States Army)
• United States Army Intelligence and Security Command
• Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, The United States Army is currently reorganizing its intelligence formations into Battlefield Surveillance Brigades (BfSB).

References