Maryland Air Guard Joins Cyber Defense Exercise in Estonia

TALLINN, Estonia - Maryland National Guard Airmen participated in a cybersecurity exercise at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence with their Estonian and French partners.

Locked Shields 2024, the world's largest live-fire cyber defense exercise, is designed to highlight the global community's commitment to combating cyber threats.

"The purpose of the exercise is to help our nations develop their capabilities to face cyber threats as a coalition," said Mart Noorma, NATO CCDCOE director. "We have real threats around us, and most of our participants came out of the trenches of real cyber warfare to participate in Locked Shields. I am confident they will go back defending their nations stronger than ever."

The Maryland Airmen assigned to the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group enhanced their technical ability and learned how to work more efficiently with their international partners, including the Estonia Ministry of Defence and the French Operational Information Systems and Cyberdefense Squadron.

"This competition gave the United States the opportunity to collaborate with Estonian and French cyber experts to foster trust and solidarity in the cyber environment which ultimately strengthens collective defensive capabilities and resilience against global cyber threats," said Maryland Air National Guard Lt. Col. Robert Deluca, 175th Cyberspace Operations Squadron staff officer.

During the exercise, blue teams formed by member nations of the NATO CCDCOE took on the role of national cyber rapid reaction teams, which would deploy to assist in handling a large-scale cyber incident.

"The teams must be effective in reporting incidents, executing strategic decisions, and solving forensic, legal and media challenges," said Deluca. "To keep up with technology developments, Locked Shields focuses on realistic scenarios and cutting-edge technologies, relevant networks, and attack methods."

Deluca said the exercise sharpened collaboration between military, civilian and government cybersecurity experts. The simulated scenario in a controlled environment enabled the groups to share tactics, techniques and procedures.

"The output from this fictional cyber attack exercise offers valuable and unique insights into the evolving adversary TTPs," said Deluca. "In turn, it informs policymakers and defense strategists in shaping real-world cybersecurity policies and resource allocation."

The Maryland National Guard and Estonia have had a mutually beneficial partnership for over three decades through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. Cyber activities between the partners will continue to expand.

"The Maryland Air National Guard and the Estonian Ministry of Defence have a strong 30-plus year partnership of working together in a variety of situations and exercises," said Deluca. "We have plans to work with them during several events in the near future and hope to work with our new French partners very soon."

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