Command Team

Colonel (COL) Candy Boparai
COL Candy Boparai graduated from Pomona College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1995. Following graduation, she enlisted in the Army. Following her initial enlistment, she completed Officer Candidate School and received her commission as a Military Intelligence officer in 2000.

While a Lieutenant and a Captain, she served in various leadership positions, including Assistant Brigade S2, Company Executive Officer, and Company Commander, serving both CONUS and OCONUS in Korea and the USSOUTHCOM theater of operations. After Command, she served in the 25th ID G2, deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was then selected for the Junior Officer Cryptologic Career Program (JOCCP) with the National Security Agency, subsequently deploying in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom Sentinel to leverage those skills in support of USCENTCOM requirements.

Following JOCCP, COL Boparai served as the Brigade Operations Officer for the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), where she gained her first exposure to the cyber branch. While at the 780th MI Brigade (Cyber), COL Boparai deployed twice as the Expeditionary Cyberspace Support Element OIC, to both USFOR-A and CJTF-OIR. Next, she filled critical positions within the Army's Cyber Warfare Branch serving as a Cyber National Mission Team Lead, and a lead planner with the Joint Forces Headquarters-Cyber (Army). COL Boparai served as the Commander, Central Squadron, Joint Cyber Operations Group, and then attended the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA. Most recently, COL Boparai served as the Director, Cyber Policy on the National Security Council.

Her awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Joint Service Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster; and the Army Achievement Medal.

COL Boparai is from Berkeley, California, and resides in College Park, MD, with her family.

Command Sergeant Major Joseph P Daniel
780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber)
Command Sgt. Maj. (CSM) Joseph P. Daniel is a Missouri native, he enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantryman on May 15, 1997. He attended basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California, followed by the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, California. In May 2001, he left the Marines and in May 2002 enlisted in the Army as an infantryman. In 2009, CSM Daniel reclassed to Electronic Warfare and now serves as an 17Z, Cyberspace and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) Sergeant Major.

CSM Daniel has served in various leadership roles and duty positions ranging from tactical, operational and strategic levels. His previous assignments include 5th Battalion 20th Infantry, Bravo Company, Charlie Company, and Headquarters & Headquarters Battalion; Henry H. Lind Non-Commissioned Officer Academy; and 1st Special Forces Group, Group HQ, Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington; 8th Army, Operational Fires Directorate, Seoul, Republic of South Korea; Human Resources Command, Cyber Branch, Fort Knox, Kentucky; United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas; U.S. Army Europe and Africa, Contingency Command Post, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion (provisional), Wiesbaden, Germany; 781st Military Intelligence Battalion, and now 780th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. CSM Daniel's deployments include WESTPAC with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and two tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

His military and civilian education includes all levels of the NCO System, Airborne School, Jump Master School, Instructor Training Course, Master Resiliency Course, Tactical Information Operations Course, Joint Fires and Effects Course, Combatives Level I. He holds a bachelor's degree in Information Technology Management from American Military University in Charles Town, West Virginia.

CSM Daniel's awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge; Expert Infantryman Badge; Parachutist Badge; Meritorious Service Medal (4th award); Army Commendation Medal with Valor device; Army Commendation Medal (5th award); Army Achievement Medal (2nd award); Army Good Conduct Medal (7th award); Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; NCO Professional Development Ribbon (5th award); Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd award); Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; Korea Service Ribbon; Valorous Unit Award; Meritorious Unit Citation (2nd award); Navy Unit Commendation; and Army Superior Unit Award.