National Guard Official Touts State Partnership Program Opportunities at 30th Anniversary Event

Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard Neely, the Illinois National Guard’s adjutant general, said growing cyber threats represent opportunities to strengthen partnerships critical to improving cybersecurity.

Neely spoke at a conference commemorating the 30th anniversary of the State Partnership Program, a Pentagon security cooperation initiative that connects U.S. National Guard units with the military forces of other countries.

At the conference, Neely discussed the Illinois Guard’s relationship with Poland under the SPP and its evolution to incorporate cyber operations. According to Neely, the partnership led to Poland ranking sixth in a global cyber defense index.

Neely also noted potential opportunities outside the SPP such as the training and capacity-building opportunities offered by exercises such as Cyber Shield and the civilian experience of many National Guard operators. 

Joining him at the event were U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, plans and policy director at the U.S. Cyber Command; Royal Canadian Navy Commodore Matthew Bowen, a vice director for plans and policy at CYBERCOM; and JeeYoung Oh, the Department of State’s director of threat management and operational coordination.

Bowen stressed SPP’s goal of enabling information sharing between the National Guard and its partners to build cyber resilience, DVIDS reported Thursday.