Fort Gordon, GA —U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) activated the second Theater Information Advantage Detachment (TIAD) during a ceremony held at the Cyber Conference and Catering Center at Fort Gordon Friday, October 3, 2025.

The activation marks a pivotal step in the Army’s evolving approach to information warfare.

Col. John Agnello, 2nd TIAD Commander, took charge of the ARCYBER TIAD, guiding a unit focused on supporting operations across the broader information environment. In remarks at TechNet Augusta earlier this year, Agnello highlighted the growing relevance of the TIAD’s mission in today’s complex strategic landscape.

“In an era where information is both weapon and shield, the mission of this detachment is nothing short of strategic necessity,” said Agnello “But no algorithm or system can replace the ingenuity and resolve of our soldiers. This TIAD is built on the shoulders of soldiers who bring not only technical mastery, but the courage to challenge, the creativity to adapt, and the conviction to lead. I’m honored to command a team that doesn’t just execute the mission; they embody it. They are the Army’s advantage in the information fight, and a key reason we’re positioned to succeed.”

The ARCYBER TIAD is one of three planned detachments tailored to specific geographic commands: Indo-Pacific, Europe, and ARCYBER itself. Each TIAD integrates disciplines such as cyber operations, electronic warfare, psychological operations, civil affairs, and public affairs into a unified team.

The activation ceremony served as an opportunity for soldiers and civilians from across the cyber and Information Operations community to gather and witness the birth of a unit that promises to redefine how the Army competes in the digital age.

Lt. Gen. Maria Barrett, Commander of ARCYBER, praised the TIAD concept during the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2024 annual meeting, noting that these detachments are essential for countering disinformation and malign influence:

“From the Signal Corps of World War II to the satellite networks of Desert Storm, the Army has always adapted to the character of conflict. Today, with the activation of this TIAD, we carry that legacy forward—into the information domain, where influence is decisive and truth must be defended. This is not just a new unit; it’s the next chapter in how the Army fights and wins.”

With its activation, the ARCYBER TIAD now stands at Initial Operating Capability—a foundational milestone that marks the beginning of its operational journey. As the unit builds toward Full Operating Capability, it will continue refining its integration across cyber, information, and influence disciplines, ensuring commanders have the tools and insights needed to compete effectively in the information environment across the competition continuum.

The road ahead is deliberate and mission-focused, with each step reinforcing the Army’s commitment to shaping the future of information warfare through innovation, agility, and the strength of its people.

Story by MAJ Lindsay Roman

U.S. Army Cyber Command

WASHINGTON — Cyber is central to the Army’s once-in-a-generation transformation and to defending the homeland’s critical infrastructure, said Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of the Army Brandon Pugh to attendees at the Billington CyberSecurity Summit, Sept. 11.

Pugh said the Army’s Continuous Transformation aims to put the right technology in Soldiers’ hands faster while strengthening readiness for the future battlefield — where cybersecurity underpins everything from base operations to mobilization.

“This is our effort to make sure the Army is adapting to the future battlefield,” Pugh said. “Cyber is a key component of Army Continuous Transformation.”

Pugh participated in “The Future of Cyber Threat” panel, moderated by Chris Townsend, an Elastic vice president. Alongside Pugh were Col. Ivan Kalabashkin, Deputy Head of Ukraine’s Security Services Cyber Division; Vikram Thakur, Technical Director at Broadcom; and Josh Salmanson, Vice President for the Defense Cyber Practice at Leidos. Panelists discussed a range of cyber-related issues.

People first

“People are the core of the Army,” Pugh said, noting that modernization efforts revolve around Soldiers and Army civilians who defend the nation every day. He highlighted opportunities to better harness the skills of Army National Guard and Army Reserve cyber professionals — many of whom work in cybersecurity in their civilian careers. “Who is better positioned to defend a critical infrastructure threat than the people who live there?” he asked.

Protecting critical infrastructure at home

Pugh emphasized that defending the homeland is a top priority, and that the Army has a direct stake because vulnerabilities in privately owned critical infrastructure — from power grids to transportation networks — can affect Army installations and unit mobilization. He pointed to assessments by the Army Cyber Institute at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point that examine how infrastructure weaknesses could disrupt the Army’s ability to project forces in crisis or conflict. “We need to be able to mobilize forces and equipment at a moment’s notice,” he said.

When asked how to address critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, Salmanson urged organizations to “get back to the basics” — patching systems, reducing vulnerabilities and avoiding shared passwords — to cut noise in networks and improve response to new threats. “We’re seeing higher volumes and better quality [attacks] consistently,” he said.

AI for cyber — at scale

Panelists agreed adversaries are already using artificial intelligence to increase the speed and quality of attacks. Kalabashkin said Ukraine has faced more than 13,000 cyberattacks on government and critical infrastructure systems since the start of the full-scale war, with Russia using AI in recent months to scan for network vulnerabilities.

Pugh said the Army is leaning into AI where it can provide a decisive edge. “How can AI be used more effectively and at scale for defensive cyber operations and perhaps even offensive cyber operations?” he asked, noting strong work already underway across Army Cyber Command and U.S. Cyber Command. “We should leverage AI to gain the upper hand — a force multiplier for our Soldiers.”

Speed to capability

Pugh said the Army is working to shorten timelines to field cyber capabilities, particularly from innovative companies with niche solutions. “If you have a unique capability that can add value to the military, there should be an ability to get that in the hands of a warfighter and test it in weeks,” he said. That effort, he added, aligns with the Army’s broader push to transform how it acquires, tests and fields technology.

By MAJ Sean M. Minton

WASHINGTON — Bringing innovative technologies to Soldiers and incorporating next generation software and capabilities will be among the priorities of the Army’s new top cyber strategist.

Brandon Pugh outlined his duties as the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of the Army during a discussion in Augusta, Georgia, Thursday.

Pugh, a Rutgers Law School graduate, not only boasts the cybersecurity experience and education to advise service leaders but Pugh, an officer in the Army reserve, can relate to the Soldiers his leadership will influence, having served as a paratrooper, international law officer and now as a national security law professor while in uniform.

Pugh was a non-resident fellow at the U.S. Military Academy and served as legislative counsel at the New Jersey General Assembly Minority Office, managing policy and legislation related to cybersecurity.

Pugh became the third person to be named PCA after President Donald Trump nominated him June 16, becoming the first political appointee to the role.

Pugh said that bolstering the Army’s cyber capabilities and cybersecurity aligns with the service’s continuous transformation priorities, where the service will leverage the latest technologies to keep pace with adversaries.

“I truly believe in the direction the Army is going,” Pugh said. “The Army’s continuous transformation is really a unique window in transforming the Army overall to the current battlefield, as well as where the future one is. And I think cyber is a key part of that.”

Pugh said his goals for Army cyber include pushing AI capabilities to the warfighter and fulfilling the president’s priority of defending the homeland. He said national defense can be achieved by bolstering the service’s cyber offensive and defensive capabilities.

“Transformation is really delivering capabilities to the warfighter in a quick speed. That’s just not a buzzword. How do I interpret that for our office?” he said. “It’s really looking at the nexus of AI and cyber. ARCYBER is doing a great job under [ … Army Cyber Command Science Advisor and Chief Analytics Officer Mark A. “Al” Mollenkopf’s] leadership, but I think that’s the direction we need to go in.”

Pugh will lead his office from the Pentagon and collaborate with Leonel Garciga, the Army’s Chief Information Officer, and other senior leaders. Pugh’s council comes at a critical time as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth identified cyber among the Army’s top areas to invest.

This fall, Army Cyber Command, based at Fort Gordon, Georgia, will form the first of its three Theater Information Advantage Detachments, which will focus on U.S. adversaries in the realm of cyber information. Pugh visited Fort Gordon, Georgia, in late July including meeting with Army cyber capability developers at the 11th Cyber Battalion.

Pugh said that further incorporating the National Guard and his fellow reservists into ARCYBER and broader cyber efforts will be among his priorities. He said that many members of the guard and Army Reserve boast skills in the areas of cyber and technology that could benefit the Army’s cyber capabilities.

The Army established its Cyber Direct Commissioning Program, or CDCP, for those who possess key experience in the cyber field or education to be appointed to the Army’s Cyber Corps in the ranks of lieutenant to colonel.

“I see this as a total Army. We need our active-duty Soldiers, but we also need our Reservists and our Guardsmen, and I’ll add civilians on top of that,” Pugh said. “I think we see awesome examples of the Guard and Reserve being utilized.”

Pugh added that Guardsmen work in local communities where they can contribute to critical infrastructure defense.

“Some of these Reserve and Guardsmen have incredible skill sets. They’re in C-suite (top cyber strategy) positions sometimes in their civilian world [positions]. To make sure we’re leveraging them, I think is key.”

By Joe Lacdan Army News Service

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.”

During his time in Georgia, Mr. Pugh met with capability developers from the 11th Cyber Battalion, who showcased innovative, in-house engineered devices tailored to meet the operational needs of expeditionary cyber teams. He also interacted with Soldiers from the 782nd Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber), who support Cyber Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ-C) for the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.

The 780th MI BDE (Cyber) is geographically dispersed across four states. The brigade headquarters, the 781st MI Battalion (Cyber), and the Operations Support Element (OSE), are based at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland; the 11th CY Battalion and 782d MI Battalion (Cyber) are headquartered at Fort Gordon, Georgia; and the 782d has operational detachments in Hawaii and Texas.

According to the Brigade commanding officer, Col. Candy Boparai, the 780th MI BDE (Cyber) is a critical enabler of ARCYBER and U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), delivering unique, multi-domain capabilities to sense, understand, and deliver effects in the information environment.

“The 780th MI Brigade (Cyber) directly supports USCYBERCOM’s core missions: defending the Nation and conducting cyber operations to achieve Combatant Command objectives,” said Boparai. “We operate as a key component of the Army’s Cyber Mission Force (CMF), specifically providing National Mission Teams, National Support Teams, Combat Mission Teams, and Combat Support Teams, and Capability Solutions Developers.”

According to Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Daniel, the brigade’s senior enlisted leader, “As the Army’s only offensive cyber force, the 780th provides unique capabilities to sense, understand, and deliver tactical, operational and strategic cyber effects globally to achieve Combatant Command objectives.”

Daniel remarked that the brigade supports Joint Force efforts, leveraging their more than 2,100 personnel to address cyber challenges worldwide; and the brigade’s cyber teams, 11th CY BN Expeditionary CEMA (cyberspace electromagnetic activities) Teams (ECTs), and developers are all actively involved in regular cyber operations, collaborating with USCYBERCOM, Army electronic warfare units, and other partners.

In addition to receiving briefings, Mr. Pugh was able to see a live operation in the brigade’s Joint Mission Operations Center and view an Army Continuous Transformation drone demonstration by the OSE Cyber Solutions Development team.

As part of the Principal Cyber Advisor’s briefing, the brigade discussed the training requirements to achieve and maintain mastery in a Cyber Soldier’s assignment. These requirements are executed at the brigade, following their training at the U.S. Army Cyber School. The additional training can range from several months to more than a year and continues as the Soldiers progress.

“The Army’s most significant inputs into cyber readiness are presenting high quality personnel and providing the supporting talent management policies to sustain them in Cyber Mission Force long enough to achieve and maintain mastery in their skillsets,” said Boparai. “We are the only U.S. Army offensive cyber operations brigade and our focus as the administrative command headquarters is to man, train, equip, assess and enable the Army CMF and CEMA teams in accordance with published USCYBERCOM and ARCYBER standards.”

The 780th MI Brigade (Cyber) motto is inscribed on the organization’s Distinctive Unit Insignia “Ubique Et Semper In Pugna.” Latin for “Everywhere and always fighting,” we don’t specifically talk about what we do nor who we are in a cyber ‘knife fight’ with; however, we are “Everywhere and Always…In the Fight!”

Story by Steven Stover
780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber)