FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021
CONTACT: Colorado National Guard Public Affairs, 720-250-1053, ng.co.coarng.list.militarysupport@mail.mil
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order for a Colorado National Guard cyber team with up to nine members to provide cyber support to the Colorado Secretary of State and Office of Information Technology before and during the election Nov. 2.
“My office looks forward to continuing our partnership with the Colorado National Guard cyber team for this year’s election,” Secretary Jena Griswold, said. “These security experts will partner with our cyber security experts to help protect out critical election infrastructure from cyber threats and represents just one of many things we do to make sure Coloradans can have confidence in our election results.”
CONG cyber Soldiers joined together into a Cyber Task Force to provide network monitoring during the elections, preventing cyber-attacks and enhancing integration across state agencies.
“The National Guard’s growing cyber force fights on the frontlines of the digital domain,” The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Laura Clellan said. “The Colorado National Guard has helped lead the way to new frontiers by holding the high-tech ground.”
Cyber Soldiers are trained to execute offensive cyberspace operations, conduct computer network defense, and detect malicious activity on the electromagnetic battlefield, using advanced military networks and cyber weapon systems.
CONG cyber assets include:
The Colorado Army National Guard Cyber Protection Team 174, whose mission is to provide threat mitigation support to the United States Critical Infrastructure Key Resources and US Military Services and Combatant Commands key terrain. Additionally, CPT 174 is prepared to support domestic operations missions at the direction of the Governor.
The Colorado Air National Guard 140th Communications Flight provides communications and information capabilities, plans for programming of acquisition and installation of the latest available technologies enhancing primary missions and leverages information technology for more effective fighter operations, maintenance, support and medical operations.
The CONG Defensive Cyberspace Operations Element comprised of Army and Air personnel, protect critical state infrastructure and respond to state cyberspace emergencies as directed by the Adjutant General or the Governor. DCO-E members are trained and qualified in the knowledge, skills, and abilities as defensively-oriented cyber forces.
National Guard cyber protection units are part of service-specific requirements to provide cyber capabilities for overseas contingency operations.