12.11.15

Hoeven Congratulates North Dakota Army National Guard on New Cyber Defense Mission

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today congratulated Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk and the North Dakota Army National Guard on its selection as part of the regional Army National Guard Cyber Protection Team (CPT). Starting in 2018, seven soldiers in North Dakota and 32 soldiers from Colorado, South Dakota and Utah will form a shared CPT and join the Department of Defense’s cyberforces in defense of critical military and civilian government computer network infrastructure. Including North Dakota, National Guard specialists will operate in CPTs across 24 states and will be aligned to assist in domestic emergency responses.

“Our North Dakota National Guard members have served our nation honorably across a wide variety of missions, both here at home and abroad,” Hoeven said. “Not only have our soldiers worked to defend our state and nation in traditional roles, they continue expanding and adapting to meet the defense needs of the future. This new mission will help ensure our local infrastructure, whether military or civilian, is secured against cyber attacks. We are very proud of our guard members, and we will continue our efforts to support them in their vital missions.”

Hoeven said the new cyber defense mission will complement the work of the 119th Air Wing’s intelligence targeting mission in Fargo. Earlier this year, Hoeven helped secure $7.3 million for a new facility for the targeting mission in the Military Construction Appropriations bill, which the Senate passed last month. The senator continues working to secure support for the facility in the year-end funding legislation.