West Virginia National Guard Spearheads Landmark Multi-State Cyber Defense Initiative

The West Virginia National Guard, through its Army Interagency Training and Education Center (AITEC), has successfully concluded a groundbreaking two-phase cyber defense exercise designed to enhance the preparedness of Guard members for critical infrastructure protection missions. This initiative, the first of its kind, involved participants from ten states and aimed to fortify the nation’s defenses against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. The exercise culminated in September 2025, following an initial phase that saw Guard members integrate with interagency and utility partners in a live-grid cyber range environment at Plum Island, New York, as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Liberty Eclipse exercise.

The subsequent validation phase of the pilot program was hosted by the Marshall University Institute for Cyber Security (ICS) in Huntington, West Virginia, from September 21st to 24th. This phase focused on the training, certification, and validation of 24 selected National Guard participants, chosen from an initial pool of 54 volunteers. These Guard members, hailing from states including Hawaii, Minnesota, Virginia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Indiana, and West Virginia, worked collaboratively in a simulated operational environment. The Maryland National Guard’s 169th Cyber Protection Team also participated in the certification phase at Marshall University, assessing the readiness of the participants for operational cyber defense missions.

The West Virginia National Guard’s leadership in this critical initiative is attributed to its established practice of fostering close collaborations with academic institutions, local communities, and various partner organizations. The strong relationship with entities like Marshall University and local community leaders is instrumental in creating realistic and high-quality training experiences, ultimately contributing to enhanced community resilience. This exercise underscores the vital role of the National Guard in safeguarding the nation’s essential systems, leveraging the unique blend of civilian and military expertise to develop innovative cyber defense solutions for Defense Critical Infrastructure. The expansion of these capabilities to additional states and territories is a key objective, aiming to integrate them into future operations and bolster the nation’s overall resilience against cyber adversaries.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the West Virginia National Guard.

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