FORT GORDON, Ga. — The Army’s top cyber strategist, Mr. Brandon Pugh, principal cyber advisor to the secretary of the Army, concluded a landmark three-day visit to Army Cyber Command Headquarters in late July, signaling strong support for the command’s forward-thinking approach to cyber readiness and modernization.
Following his recent appointment in June, Mr. Pugh’s inaugural trip from July 21-23 included extensive briefings and firsthand engagement with ARCYBER’s top talent and trailblazing technology. His itinerary spanned operational hubs, innovation centers and tactical units — each reinforcing the Army’s commitment to digital superiority in today’s increasingly complex and contested battlespace.
Operational Insights and Talent Retention
Early in the visit, Mr. Pugh was briefed on the need for the Cyber Readiness Skills Pay initiative, designed to incentivize retention of high-demand cyber professionals. Leadership briefed him on ARCYBER’s mission, structure and ongoing readiness programs, emphasizing the strategic need to empower and sustain elite cyber forces.
Frontline Innovation at the 11th Cyber Battalion
A key highlight of Mr. Pugh’s visit was his in-depth engagement with the capability developers from the 11th Cyber Battalion, who showcased a range of innovative, in-house engineered devices tailored to meet the unique operational needs of the expeditionary cyber teams. These demonstrations featured customized solutions designed to bridge target network connections and identify adversary emitters across the battlefield.
Mr. Pugh observed demonstrations by expeditionary firing crews — five-person teams capable of delivering strategic cyber effects in support of theater-level objectives, combining cyber operations and electromagnetic warfare in ways previously unseen.
Drones and Dominance
The 11th Battalion is accelerating its Small Unmanned Aircraft System Training Program around the secretary of defense’s “Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance” directive and now leads efforts to rapidly produce drone teams. With authority to directly acquire drones under 55 pounds, the battalion equips forces to execute electromagnetic reconnaissance and ISR missions across global theaters.
The SUAS capability promises full integration into beyond line of sight tactics, techniques, procedures and concept of operations by the end of 2026 — paving the way for drone-led data supremacy on tomorrow’s battlefields.
Driving Strategy Across Components
Beyond tech showcases, Mr. Pugh engaged ARCYBER leadership on key policy and structural enhancements, including:
Expanding the use of National Guard and Reserve cyber units
Strengthening electromagnetic warfare resources at the division level and below
Increasing strategic communications to highlight ARCYBER’s unique warfighting contributions
He concluded the visit by expressing a strong intent to continue collaborating closely with the team and aligning efforts to support their evolving mission needs. He announced an upcoming visit to the Cyber Center of Excellence, signaling enduring collaboration with cyber leadership.
Building the Future of Warfare
Mr. Pugh’s visit reaffirmed the Army’s vision for cyber dominance — one shaped not just by emerging technology but by mission-aligned innovation.
“Technology is critical in today’s battlefield, and it is imperative that our warfighters fully leverage and lead with it, from cyber to drones,” Mr. Pugh noted. “ARCYBER’s work is a blueprint for building capabilities that achieve that goal and sharpen our warfighting edge.”
By Lindsay Roman
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