[ISN] Army activates network warfare unit

http://www.army.mil/-newsreleases/2008/07/02/10569-army-activates-network-warfare-unit/

July 02, 2008

A new chapter for the Army began this morning, July 2, when the Army 
Network Warfare Battalion (Provisional) was activated during a ceremony 
at Fort George G. Meade, Md.

The battalion's cyber mission will provide support to the Army and the 
Department of Defense. This support will include a variety of tasks, 
ranging from tactical support to Army Brigade Combat Teams in Iraq 
through strategic support to the other services, joint commanders, and 
interagency partners as required.

"We observe history this morning when this battalion activates. It is a 
first for INSCOM and a first for the Army," said Maj. Gen. David 
Lacquement, commander, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command. 
"This battalion formalizes and centralizes the Army's mission to provide 
rapid, increasing support to forces worldwide and will lead the Army in 
providing a larger and more robust network warfare capability."

The threats to America's computer networks are real and significant. As 
part of approved military operations, the U.S. Army maintains 
capabilities to defend itself in cyberspace or any other domain, against 
terrorist groups or any adversary who seeks to harm our national 
security.

In the space of 15 years, networked information systems have become 
essential to organized human activity across much of the globe. These 
systems are integral to telecommunications, banking and finance, 
transportation and energy distribution, human services, government, and 
all levels of military operations. "Activation of this unit centralizes 
the U.S. Army's existing computer network operations into a provisional 
battalion, which gains efficiencies. This unit will serve as core for 
Army network warfare activities that will expand and gain capacity in 
the coming years," Lacquement said.

Members and guests of the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade watched 
two ceremonies this morning. The INSCOM commander presided over the 
activation ceremony for the new battalion, as well as the brigade's 
change of command ceremony.

Lt. Col. Jen Easterly accepted command of the ANWB from the 704th MI 
Brigade commander, Col. George J. Franz. Easterly previously served as 
the director's fellow for the director of the National Security Agency.

After the activation ceremony, Franz, the outgoing brigade commander and 
a driving force behind the establishment of the new battalion, 
relinquished brigade command to Col. Robert Taylor. Taylor previously 
served as the director, School of Advanced Military Studies, Combined 
Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.


_______________________________________________      
Attend Black Hat USA, August 2-7 in Las Vegas, 
the world's premier technical event for ICT security experts.
Featuring 40 hands-on training courses and 80 Briefings 
presentations with lots of new content and new tools.
Network with 4,000 delegates from 50 nations.  
Visit product displays by 30 top sponsors in 
a relaxed setting. http://www.blackhat.com