1. Mission & Membership

91st Cyber Brigade Association (91CBA)

"Umbra Bellatores"

Mission: Providing support to 91st Cyber Brigade Soldiers while respecting command authority, ethics requirements, and the association's nonprofit purpose.

What We Do:

•      Professional Development & Mentorship

•      Readiness & Welfare Support

•      Recognition and Esprit de Corps

•      Education and Scholarship Support

•      Community and Industry Connection

The 91CBA is a program of the Military Cyber Professionals Association (MCPA), a national 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit charity with over 5,500 vetted members across the broader American military cyber community, including personnel who are active duty, guard, reserve, veterans, industry, and academia.

Leadership

President: Colonel (Ret) Matthew Wear

Vice President: Major (Ret) Jason McCliesh

Leadership contact information can be found on the member-only intranet

Membership

To become a member of the 91CBA, visit the MCPA Join page and complete the MCPA Membership Application Form (where you will indicate your 91st Cyber Brigade affiliation).

•      Membership is free for all US federal government employees (uniformed and civilian, active and reserve, federal and state) and honorably discharged US military veterans.

•      We leverage the MCPA's vetting process to manage risk to our personnel and mission.

Member Benefits:

•      Exclusive invitations to 91st events and socials

•      Access to a professional mentorship network

•      Early ticket access and alumni perks for the annual Cyber Ball

•      Quarterly newsletter and recognition opportunities

•      Networking across current Soldiers, alumni, and industry partners

•      Volunteer and community engagement opportunities

•      Voice in shaping 91CBA programs & volunteer for a leadership role and help set the direction

•      Standing as a founding-era member as the 91CBA builds out its full slate of offerings

2. The Cyber Ball

Theme (to be confirmed): 1st Annual 91st Cyber Brigade Ball: “The Shadow Endures” Celebrating 10 years of Umbra Belltores Honoring Our Legacy. Cultivating the Digital Future.

Join us for an evening honoring the 91st Cyber Brigade, its subordinate units across the hierarchy, and our DPU alumni, celebrating our community and our way forward into the digital future.

Expect an evening of networking, fine dining, tradition, keynote speakers, and other memorable moments.

When: Saturday 14 November 2026 (date to be published)

Where: National Museum of the United States Army, Fort Belvoir, VA

Guests Welcomed: Alumni, currently assigned personnel, partners, and their dates

RSVP today to be the first to know when tickets become available, and to receive:

•      Early updates

•      Hotel block information

•      Priority access to tickets

[RSVP Button/Link]

Schedule of events to follow. Stay tuned!

3. Past Events

Cyber Fortress 25 (Aug 2025, Virginia Beach)

A joint, interagency, intergovernmental, multinational exercise focused on electric cooperative cyber defense, hosted by the Fort Belvoir-based 91st Cyber Brigade and the Information Operations Support Center. VDF article

Cyber Fortress 3.0 (July 2024, Virginia Beach)

Multinational and interagency partners exercised Virginia's cyber incident response process, joined by the Finnish Defense Forces. Army.mil article

Cyber Shield Certification Exercise 2024 (May–June 2024)

123rd Cyber Protection Battalion Soldiers re-certified cyber protection teams alongside nearly 250 Army/Air Guard personnel nationwide, validating multiple 91st units for Title 10 mobilizations. Army.mil article

Cyber Fortress 2045  "Capture the Flag" (May 2024, Fairfax)

The 91st and Recruiting and Retention Battalion hosted 30+ Virginia students for the inaugural student-focused cyber event. VA National Guard article

Headquarters Groundbreaking (Nov 16, 2018, Fort Belvoir)

Senior leadership of the Virginia National Guard, 91st Cyber Brigade, and Fort Belvoir broke ground on the brigade's permanent 41,162 sq. ft. readiness center, completed in 2021. VA National Guard article | Flickr gallery

Brigade Activation Ceremony (Sept 17, 2017, Fort Belvoir)

The Virginia National Guard activated the 91st Cyber Brigade as the Army National Guard's first cyber brigade, the founding moment now honored as the chapter's origin. Army.mil article | Flickr gallery

4. How to Donate & Volunteer

How to Donate

Tax-deductible donations can be made through our relationship with the MCPA, an established national 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit charity rated 4 out of 4 stars by Charity Navigator.

Donate via MCPA: public.milcyber.org/sponsors/donate

Please indicate alignment of funding to the 91st Cyber Brigade Association.

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) #: 10368

Your donation helps:

•      Reduce financial barriers to participation in chapter events

•      Expand access to professional development and educational opportunities

•      Support recognition and heritage events (like the Cyber Ball)

•      Provide meaningful assistance for morale, welfare, and readiness activities

How to Volunteer

The 91CBA is volunteer-fueled, just like the success of the 91st Cyber Brigade itself, this organization relies on the time and expertise of its members.

Ways to get involved:

•      91CBA leadership roles (examples: planning, communications, or outreach)

•      Event support for the Cyber Ball and future socials

•      Mentorship pairing alumni with currently serving Soldiers

•      Heritage & history documentation

•      Sponsorship and industry outreach

Email leadership using the contact information on the member-only intranet.

5. Heritage & History

Origins: The Virginia Data Processing Unit

The 91st Cyber Brigade traces its roots to the Virginia Data Processing Unit (DPU), which supported the National Guard Bureau Computer Center in the 1970s — back when punch cards were state of the art. As digital risks evolved, so did the unit's mission, eventually paving the way for the modern cyber force it is today.

2017: Brigade Activation

The Virginia National Guard activated the Bowling Green-based 91st Cyber Brigade as the Army National Guard's first cyber brigade at a ceremony Sept. 17, 2017, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The brigade was reflagged from the 91st Troop Command, and the Fairfax-based 123rd DPU was divided into the 123rd and 124th Cyber Protection Battalions. Army.mil | Flickr gallery

2018: Headquarters Groundbreaking

Senior leadership of the Virginia National Guard, 91st Cyber Brigade, and Fort Belvoir broke ground Nov. 16, 2018, on the brigade's permanent 41,162 sq. ft. readiness center — completed in 2021. VA National Guard article | Flickr gallery

2020: First Direct Commission

Maj. Waldon Jue became the first Army National Guard Soldier to direct-commission as a cyber operations officer, in a ceremony presided over by Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, Adjutant General of Virginia — opening a new pathway for bringing civilian cyber talent directly into the ranks. Army.mil article

2025: Notable Commission — LTC Robert M. Lee

The Virginia National Guard direct-commissioned Robert M. Lee, CEO and co-founder of Dragos, to Lieutenant Colonel at 91st Cyber Brigade headquarters — a first in the Army National Guard cybersecurity field. VA National Guard article

The Insignia "Umbra Bellatores"

The brigade's motto, Umbra Bellatores, means "Shadow Warriors"  reflected in its role as the "Shadow Brigade" defending the Army's networks against unseen threats. Click/press on the images below to learn more about the unit's symbols at the Institute of Heraldry.