History

The 780th Military Intelligence (MI) Brigade (Cyber) was activated on October 1, 2011, as a Major Subordinate Command under the U.S. Army Intelligence & Security Command, while also serving under the operational control of U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER). The 780th MI Brigade is the only operational offensive cyberspace Brigade in the U.S. Army, where we actively fight alongside our Joint partners to achieve U.S. supremacy in an increasingly contested cyberspace and electromagnetic domain

The history of the 780th MI Brigade dates back to 1995 when the Technical Analysis Activity (TAA) was created within the Army Technical Control and Analysis Element. In the ensuing years, the 704th MI Brigade was tasked to develop a computer network operations force for the Army and in June 1998, B Company, 742nd MI Battalion evolved out of the TAA and answered the call.

In June 2000, Detachment Meade, 742nd MI Battalion was established to sustain the growing need for an Army computer network operations force. Detachment Meade was re-designated as the Army Network Warfare Detachment in 2007 and in June 2008 the Task Force was again re-designated as the Army Network Warfare Battalion (Provisional). The following year the Battalion moved beyond its provisional status and was designated the 744th MI Battalion (Army Network Warfare Battalion).

In December 2010, the Army approved the establishment of a cyberspace operations Brigade, and on October 1, 2011, the 780th MI Brigade was organized. Subsequently, the 744th MI Battalion was re-designated as the 781st MI Battalion and re-organized under the new Brigade. The 780th MI Brigade officially unfurled its colors for the first time during a ceremony at Fort Meade, Maryland on December 1, 2011.

The Brigade began building a second Battalion headquartered at Fort Gordon, Georgia in 2011 culminating with the establishment and designation of the 782nd MI Battalion on June 7, 2013. Detachments Texas and Hawaii were organized as part of the 782nd MI Battalion in 2013 and 2014 respectively, giving the Brigade a footprint in four states supporting multiple operational headquarters.

In July 2017, the 780th MI Brigade established the Cyber Solutions Development Detachment, the newest addition to the Brigade focused on innovating solutions across the spectrum of cyberspace operations. Subsequently, there are now CSD Detachments at both Fort Meade and Fort Gordon.

Since August 15, 2017, U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers have mobilized and been assigned to Task Force Echo, an organization conducting cyberspace operations in support of U.S. Cyber Command and the Cyber National Mission Force. The Task Force is aligned under the 780th MI Brigade, which falls under the operational control of ARCYBER.

On June 6, 2018, the Department of the Army directed ARCYBER to activate the 915th Cyber Warfare Battalion (915th CWB) at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Subsequently, ARCYBER directed the 780 MI Brigade to assume Command Authority and Administrative Control of the 915th CWB. On October 16, 2022, the 915th CWB was officially re-designated as the 11th Cyber Battalion (11th CYB). The 11th CYB is the first scalable organic expeditionary capability to meet the Army’s current and projected tactical cyberspace requirements, including the integration of cyber and electronic warfare.

Since 2011, the 780th MI Brigade's mission has increased in scope, scale, and complexity. The unit is known among ARCYBER, U.S. Cyber Command, and senior Army leaders as a world class cyberspace operations force capable of providing a ready force, developing capabilities required to meet expanding requirements, and delivering effects at the time and place of the operational commander's choosing.