U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) joined forces with his Indiana Democratic colleague U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly in leading their home state’s entire congressional delegation in supporting a statewide plan to locate a cyber battalion in Indianapolis.
The lawmakers backed a proposal submitted by the Indiana National Guard to activate a new cyber unit in the Hoosier state as part of the Army National Guard Cyber Brigade’s Concept Plan to place additional cyber units across the United States by the end of fiscal year 2019 to meet the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) ongoing buildup of cyber forces. Cyber security units undertake vulnerability assessments, forensics analysis, critical infrastructure assessment and support, and cyber security support, according to the U.S. Army.
The Indiana National Guard’s “distinctive combination of cyber-related assets enables the Indiana National Guard to provide uniquely skilled and valuable support to Army Cyber Command,” the lawmakers wrote in a Feb. 16 letter to Army National Guard Director Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Kadavy. “We encourage you to consider the merits of the Indiana National Guard’s proposal to station a cyber battalion in Indiana. We fully support their proposal.”
Joining the senators in signing the letter were all the members of the Indiana delegation serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, including U.S. Republican Reps. Susan Brooks, Jackie Walorski and Larry Bucshon.
Among numerous assets, the lawmakers noted that the Indiana National Guard, which is the fourth-largest Army National Guard unit in the United States, is comprised of signal and military intelligence units “with deep cyber expertise,” as well as an existing 12,000-square foot information and intelligence facility having more than enough seats to house the cyber headquarters battalion.
Additionally, the metro Indianapolis area would ideally locate a cyber battalion near the Purdue University Cyber Center, the Indiana University Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research, and the Indiana National Guard Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex (MUTC), among other advantageous sites, according to the letter. In fact, the MUTC is the only live, full-scale cyber range within DOD, the lawmakers pointed out.
Indiana National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Courtney Carr welcomed the delegation’s support for the cyber battalion’s location and said, “It’s rewarding that they recognize our capability and what a good fit additional cyber structure would be here in Indiana.”