780th Military Intelligence Brigade (United States)

780th Military Intelligence Brigade
Active	2011
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Military intelligence Cyberwarfare
Role	Cyber Operations
Size	Brigade[1]
Part of	INSCOM
Headquarters	Fort Meade, Maryland
Nickname(s)	Praetorians
Website	780th MI BDE website
Commanders
Current Commander	Colonel Matthew Lennox[2]
Command Sergeant Major	Command Sergeant Major Ronald Krause[2]
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 780th Military Intelligence Brigade conducts cyberspace operations to deliver effects in support of Army and Joint requirements. The 780th MI BDE is the only offensive cyberspace operations brigade in the U.S. Army. The organization actively fights alongside its partners to achieve U.S. supremacy in cyberspace and in the electromagnetic spectrum.^[3]

History[]

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

• The 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (MI BDE) (Cyber) was activated on October 1, 2011, as a Major Subordinate Command under the U.S. Army Intelligence & Security Command (INSCOM), while also serving under the operational control of U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER). The 780th MI BDE is the only offensive cyberspace operations brigade in the U.S. Army and we actively fight alongside our Joint partners to achieve U.S. supremacy in an increasingly contested cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum.
• The history of the 780th MI Brigade dates back to 1995 when the Technical Analysis Activity (TAA) was created within the Army Technical Control and Analysis Element (ATCAE). In the ensuing years, the 704th MI Brigade was tasked to develop a computer network operations force for the Army and in June 1998, B Company, 742nd MI Battalion evolved out of the TAA and answered the 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 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 BDE 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 BDE 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 on June 7, 2013. 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 May 2014, the 780th MI BDE became the operational arm for the ARCYBER Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) Support to Corps and Below (CSCB) 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.^[5][6][7][8]
• Since August 15, 2017, U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers have been mobilized and assigned to Task Force Echo, an organization conducting cyberspace operations in support of U.S. Cyber Command and the Cyber National Mission Force. The Task Force is aligned under the 780th MI Brigade, which falls under the operational control of U.S. Army Cyber Command.
• On June 6, 2018, the Department of the Army directed U.S. Army Cyber Command to activate the 915th Cyber Warfare Battalion (915 CWB). Subsequently, ARCYBER directed the 780 MI Brigade assume Command Authority and administrative control of the 915th CWB. The 915 CWB is the first scalable organic expeditionary capability to meet the Army’s current and projected tactical cyberspace requirements, including the integration of cyber and electronic warfare.
• Since the brigade's inception, the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade's mission has increased in scope, scale, and complexity. The unit is known among ARCYBER, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), 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.

Vision[]

According to the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade's commander Colonel Brian D. Vile, "We are America's most innovative cyberspace operations force, deterring, and when directed, defeating our nation's adversaries in and through cyberspace".

Subordinate units[]

The 780th Military Intelligence (MI) Brigade (Praetorians) consists of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (Hastati), 781st MI Battalion, and the 782nd MI Battalion.^[5]

• 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.^[5]
• 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.^[5]
• The Cyber Solutions Development Detachment was established on July 25, 2017. The Detachment focuses on innovative solutions across the spectrum of cyberspace operations.^[9]
• Task Force Echo (TFE), a unit composed of U.S. Army National Guard (ARNG) Soldiers, was established on August 15, 2017, when they officially began their training to become an integral part of ARCYBER under the 780th MI Brigade. In the past two years, more than 300 ARNG Soldiers have been assigned to TFE and have worked with the 780th MI BDE to conduct cyberspace operations in support of USCYBERCOM and the Cyber National Mission Force.^[10]
• The 915th Cyber Warfare Battalion (CWB) was officially activated and assigned under ARCYBER on January 1, 2019, and is headquartered at Fort Gordon, Georgia. The 915 CWB is the first scalable organic expeditionary capability to meet the Army’s current and projected tactical cyberspace requirements, including the integration of cyber and electronic warfare. 915th CWB Soldiers wear the ARCYBER patch. B Company, 915 CWB, activated on January 29, 2021 at Fort Gordon, Ga. to field initial command and control capabilities.

^[11]

See also[]

• Military Intelligence Corps (United States Army)
• United States Army Intelligence and Security Command
• United States Army Cyber Command
• Battlefield surveillance brigades in the United States Army – the United States Army is currently reorganizing its intelligence formations into Battlefield Surveillance Brigades (BfSB).

^[12]

References[]