Category: Security

Source: United States Army

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – A team of Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers won the innovation category at the U.S. Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition, showcasing cutting-edge unmanned aircraft system technology developed at Fort Indiantown Gap.

The competition, held Feb. 17–19 at the Huntsville Test Range in Huntsville, Alabama, brought together Soldiers from active-duty, National Guard, and Army Reserve units. It featured three categories: Best Operator, Best Tactical Squad and Best Innovation.

The 28th ID innovation team, – 1st Lt. Ryan Giallonardo, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea and Sgt. 1st Class Brent Wehr, won the innovation competition.

The team’s project, dubbed Project R.E.D. (Recovery Exploitation Drone), utilized a drone equipped with AI-enabled object-recognition software to identify downed enemy or friendly drones and a robotic, 3D-printed, carbon fiber arm with claw to grab the downed drone and fly it back for intel exploitation or repair.

“This is a great achievement for the team and the UAS facility as well as the Pennsylvania National Guard as a whole,” said Reed, the 28th ID team captain. “Competing against the entire Army, putting in the work and coming out on top really speaks volumes to what the team has been doing and the hard work they’ve been putting in, and it highlights the Pennsylvania National Guard and what we’re able to accomplish.”

The innovation competition consisted of a Shark Tank-style pitch on the first day, followed by a live demonstration on the second day.

“The judges were very impressed with everything we went through,” Reed said. “We got a lot of positive feedback and a lot of opportunity to continue working further with the Army Research Laboratory. They were highly impressed with what we were able to put together.”

Reed, who is the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Training and Innovation Facility commander at Fort Indiantown Gap, said he was able to view some of the other teams’ projects in the innovation category, and the competition was stiff.

“They did a lot of great work and put a lot of other great projects out there, so it was great for the UAS community in the Army as a whole to be able to come together and collaborate ideas,” Reed said. “It was a great honor for our team and for the state to be recognized as the top project amongst all the other great competitors in the event.”

In addition to the innovation team, Capt. Christopher Rongione competed in the operator category, and a team of Wehr and Sgt. Tyler Beck competed in the tactical squad category.

The tactical squad category, also referred to as the hunter-killer competition, began with a physical challenge that included weighted medical litter drags, overhead water can presses and sandbag carries. Competitors then moved 1,000 meters with their gear to a target area, where they employed their “hunter” drone to identify targets, submit an enemy activity report — known as a SALUTE report — and engage targets with the “killer” drone.

“In both categories, our team put in a lot of hard work and had a great showing, but unfortunately didn’t come out on top,” Reed said.

The 28th ID was the only Army National Guard unit to compete in all three events.

Dan Driscoll, the Army secretary, attended the awards ceremony on Feb. 19 and presented the winners with plaques.

In addition to a plaque, the 28th ID team also received an Army Research Lab drone prototype and a one-year research-and-development agreement, allowing the 28th ID to assist ARL with design improvements.

“We’re excited to continue to have incredible support from state and division level leadership,” Reed said. “They’ve been very helpful and very supportive of everything we’re doing, and it’s allowing us to highlight what we can do at our facility. And, I’m super proud of my entire team and everything they’re doing.”

Source: United States Army

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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

ACCRA, Ghana — U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Daniel Cederman visited Ghana in late January to reinforce the long-standing security partnership between the U.S. Army and the Ghana Armed Forces through senior leader engagements and professional dialogue.

During the visit, Cederman, the deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), met with Rolf Olson, chargé d’affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Accra. They discussed the importance of U.S.–Ghana defense cooperation as part of the broader diplomatic relationship between the two nations. Their talk highlighted the value of close coordination between military and diplomatic leaders in advancing shared security interests in West Africa.

Cederman also spoke with senior Ghanaian military leaders, including Air Vice Marshal Eric Agyen-Frempong, chief of the Air Staff. This engagement focused on strengthening military-to-military cooperation, maintaining multinational readiness and identifying opportunities for continued collaboration in training and professional military development.

The meeting went on to address Ghana’s role as a regional security partner and the importance of sustained engagement to address evolving security challenges. Conversations emphasized mutual respect, shared interests and the continued commitment of both nations to stability and security across the region.

“Our partnership with the Ghana Armed Forces reflects years of cooperation built through training, exercises and professional military development,” Cederman said. “These engagements help ensure we remain ready and able to work together effectively when it matters most.”

The visit underscored the enduring partnership between the U.S. Army and the Ghana Armed Forces, built over years of cooperation in training, exchanges and joint activities.

Ghana has served as a host nation for U.S. Africa Command’s largest exercise, African Lion. Ghana Armed Forces medics have also conducted numerous medical readiness exercises with SETAF-AF military medical personnel and participated in the “Best Medic” exercise that recently concluded. SETAF-AF partnered with Ghana to host last year’s African Land Forces Summit in Accra, and Ghana partnered with U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa to host the 2024 Africa Maritime Forces Summit.

Looking ahead, Ghana is scheduled to participate in African Lion 2026 that will take place from April 20 to May 8 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. In addition to hosting a medical readiness exercise, Ghanaian soldiers will participate in a combined forces exercise in Morocco in a broader multinational training event, supporting continued collaboration between U.S. forces and African partners.

Through engagements like this visit, U.S. Army leaders continue to strengthen trust, promote shared understanding and support collaborative efforts with African partners. These relationships support both countries’ goals of developing capable, professional forces prepared to contribute to regional peace and security.

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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

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Source: United States Army

NEW ORLEANS – – Louisiana National Guard Soldiers supported federal, state and local law enforcement partners during peak Mardi Gras operations in the French Quarter, assisting with crowd management, emergency response and public safety efforts within the French Quarter Enhanced Security Zone.

More than 350 Guardsmen have been activated since January in support of Operation NOLA Safe, a coordinated, multiagency effort targeting organized crime and violent activity across the greater New Orleans region. Assigned to Task Force Defender, Soldiers conducted roving patrols, manned checkpoints and maintained a visible presence throughout the 8th District alongside Louisiana State Police and other partner agencies.

“We are proud to serve our country, our state and the City of New Orleans,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, adjutant general of Louisiana, during a press briefing Feb. 17. “Our Soldiers remain committed to supporting our law enforcement partners and helping ensure a safe and enjoyable Mardi Gras for residents and visitors alike.”

During peak Mardi Gras operations, Louisiana National Guard Soldiers supported continuous 24-hour security efforts while working 12-hour shifts throughout the French Quarter Enhanced Security Zone. Guardsmen assisted law enforcement partners by staffing access control points, conducting roving patrols, maintaining a quick reaction force, and providing support to first responders during multiple emergency assistance requests throughout the weekend.

During the final hour of Feb. 17, Friloux and Command Sgt. Maj. Clifford Ockman, command senior enlisted leader of the Louisiana National Guard, joined city officials, federal partners and state agency leaders for the annual ceremonial walk down Bourbon Street. The coordinated clearing of the corridor marked the official close of Carnival season and the successful execution of a unified public safety mission.

Louisiana National Guard personnel will remain postured to support law enforcement partners through Feb. 28 as Operation NOLA Safe continues.

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OKLAHOMA CITY – A hand-drawn sketch on scrap paper has become a nearly 35,000-square-foot wellness center dedicated to supporting the mental, physical and spiritual health of Oklahoma National Guard service members and their families.

“This is a big event for us,” said Brig. Gen. Brad Carter, assistant adjutant general, Oklahoma Army National Guard and presiding officer for the ceremony. “Of all the years I’ve worn this uniform, I can’t tell you how excited I am about a facility that we’ve put up. Thank you to everyone who put this together, in particular our congressional delegation and our state legislature, who have been so supportive of the Oklahoma Guard.”

The state-of-the-art facility, constructed by Flintco and designed by Larson Design Group, represents a major step forward in the OKNG’s commitment to the holistic health and wellness of its service members. The center is the first of its kind for the organization, not only in its function but also in its design, working with Verdacity to achieve “Gold” certification under the WELL Building Standard.

The facility’s WELL design focuses on enhancing human health and well-being through the building’s environment, with features that address air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community.

The idea for the facility was born from a conversation between Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, and Lt. Col. Montana Dugger, deputy for the OKNG’s Construction and Facilities Maintenance Office. A simple hand-drawn sketch on scrap paper laid the foundation for a facility that would bring all of the OKNG’s mental and physical health resources under one roof.

“My staff and I drew this [plan] up with pencil and paper, a ruler and a dream,” Dugger said. “If you’ve ever been in engineering or construction more than a day, you know that sometimes things can take five, seven, 10 years to come to fruition, so I had no idea two to three years ago that I’d be standing in front of this building already completed.”

Amenities within the wellness center include a fully equipped workout space for resistance and agility training, indoor and outdoor meditation spaces, a chapel, conference rooms, classroom spaces, and a teaching kitchen.

The facility also houses OKNG programs and services, including Behavioral Health, Chaplain, Equal Employment Opportunity, Family Programs, Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F), Integrated Primary Prevention, Resilience, Suicide Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Risk Reduction, and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response.

“With the availability of a chapel, classrooms and individual office spaces, we have the opportunity for our service members and their families to access many more resources,” said Col. Lindy White, joint resiliency director for the Oklahoma National Guard. “All these services will finally have a home.”

After hearing the story of how the idea came about and knowing the positive effect a facility like this could have — and that it all started on a scrap piece of paper — White asked that the sketch be framed and displayed in the new facility for years to come.

“I’m going to take a line from Col. White,” Dugger said during the ceremony. She said, ‘Sometimes innovation can start with just a sketchpad and a pen.’”

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Source: United States Army

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Massachusetts National Guard Senior Airman Matthew Wright recently completed a five-month fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology through a military collaboration between the Department of the Air Force Artificial Intelligence Accelerator and the private research university.

The fellowship aims to promote the ethical use of artificial intelligence, or AI, while building a sustainable, end-to-end AI pipeline to help maintain U.S. competitiveness in defense and civilian sectors. The program provides exposure to cutting-edge AI research, customized training and a career-enhancing experience.

Wright was among fewer than 3% of applicants selected for the program. He was selected by Col. Scott Ruppel, director of the Department of the Air Force-MIT Artificial Intelligence Accelerator, after briefing him at Otis Air National Guard Base on the 267th Intelligence Squadron’s mission. During the briefing, Wright explained how, as a cyber analyst with the 267th Intelligence Squadron, he leveraged AI to support fellow analysts. He has a strong interest in emerging technologies and AI-enabled systems.

“It was eye-opening to see how much academia is working to solve Department of War problems,” Wright said. “The work being done at MIT Lincoln Laboratory – taking foundational research from the MIT campus and applying it to real-world DAF challenges – is cutting-edge and a key reason the U.S. military remains the most formidable in the world. Programs like this allow talent that might otherwise be confined to a single Air Force Specialty Code [AFSC] to thrive and drive innovation across the Air Force and the DoW.”

During the program, Wright served as the only enlisted Airman on his team and was among the first junior enlisted Airmen selected in the program’s history, contributing operational military and intelligence experience to his projects.

“Junior members often bring a different level of energy,” said Master Sgt. Nathaniel Maidel, research chief for imagery intelligence operations with the DAF-MIT AIA. “They tend to be younger and are not afraid of fresh ideas or taking on challenges that those of us with more experience or institutional knowledge may choose to avoid, given that experience. Senior Airman Wright was no different. His willingness to jump into new domains and engage with experts from different fields helped progress our efforts to make AI real for Airmen and Guardians.”

The Phantom Program immerses participants in advanced AI research and practical application. As a Phantom, Wright worked alongside leading AI researchers, Airmen and Space Force Guardians on a range of projects, contributing his expertise while helping bridge research and real-world implementation.

Throughout the 22-week fellowship, Wright completed 60 hours of independent AI education and contributed to the “Multi-Foundational Models for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Decision-Making” project. The team leveraged foundational research from MIT in collaboration with Lincoln Laboratory at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, focusing on few-shot computer vision models.

In addition to his team assignment, Wright completed an individual capstone project addressing an operational challenge relevant to the 102nd Intelligence Wing and broader U.S. Air Force and Department of War missions. He authored a research paper and capstone brief titled “Synthetic Network Data Generation for Analyst Training,” which explored the use of large language models to generate synthetic malicious network data to enhance cyber analyst training.

“One of the hardest parts about innovation is clearly identifying the problem you are trying to solve,” Maidel said. “Through the Phantom program and his individual research project, Phantoms like SrA Wright bring real issues to research that may be overlooked or under-resourced. He brought a clearly defined problem facing cyber defenders and an idea on how to solve it. The AIA and Phantom program simply provided the opportunity and resources to pursue that solution.”

As a Phantom alum, Wright is now tasked with demonstrating responsible AI implementation within the 102nd Intelligence Wing. He is expected to serve as an AI advocate, fostering a culture of forward thinking while emphasizing that people remain the true AI capability and the technology serves as a tool to support national defense. He will continue leveraging the professional network he built during the program to sustain those efforts.

“Senior Airman Wright is now responsible for promoting the program and mentoring his fellow Airmen who are interested in AI,” said Maj. Phillip Benevides, director of intelligence for the 102nd Intelligence Wing. “As members of the 102nd Intelligence Wing, Airmen have a unique opportunity, through our cooperative agreement with the DAF-MIT AIA, to participate in this premier AI program.”

“I am very grateful for my time at the DAF-MIT AIA,” Wright said. “I learned a lot and developed into the kind of AI talent the DoW needs to stay at the forefront of innovation.”

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Source: United States Army

BARRIGADA, Guam – The Guam National Guard’s 94th Civil Support Team, together with New Mexico Guard’s 64th Civil Support Team and Andersen Air Force Base’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives Response Team, trained Feb. 18 at a clandestine drug lab.

The entry team, composed of one service member from each agency, worked together to detect chemicals, photograph drug-manufacturing equipment and relay information to the command post via radio and live stream.

Lt. Col. Melvin Pilarca, commander of the 94th Civil Support Team, or CST, was at the command post.

“This is a full-scale, all-hazards exercise not only for our unit, but with our partners and first responders in the government of Guam and other military units,” Pilarca said. “It’s just as important that we sharpen our skills as it is to learn to work together across agencies.”

According to Pilarca, the exercise began earlier in the day at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport, where the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency and Guam Police Department tracked suspicious persons to the lab. The Guam Fire Department, or GFD, hazmat team was then called.

“If GFD sees something that is beyond their capability, that’s when they’ll send a request to activate the CST,” Pilarca said. “We have the specialized training and equipment, such as sensors and protective gear, that allows us to perform the Reconnaissance and Site Characterization mission you’re seeing now.”

Pilarca also thanked the New Mexico National Guard, Andersen Air Force Base’s 36th Civil Engineering Squadron, and GovGuam first responders for what he called “the best level of participation we’ve seen in a while.”

“Chemical and Biological hazards can spread like wildfire, including the drugs being produced in this lab,” Pilarca said. “Exercises like this are important because the better we can work together between agencies, the better we can save lives.”

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