Cyber operators welcome Congressional staffers to National Defense University

Congressional staff visited the campus of the National Defense University (NDU) on May 3 to participate in a wide array of lessons that demonstrated the complex nature of cyber defense operations.

The event was hosted by NDU, along with representative of U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) and Second Army.

“Cyberspace is a warfighting domain that is, and will continue to be, a contested environment,” Brig. Get. Patricia Frost said. “It’s a space where maneuver commanders are required to understand how we operate and can deliver effects against our adversaries that enable their operations.”

Congressional staffers were able experiment with NDU’s cyber education lab, including an overview of the threats cyber intrusions can pose to physical infrastructure, how to conduct and defend against distributed denial of service attacks, and the persistent threats that require ARCYBER to maintain effective capabilities.

“By taking students and visitors on these ‘cyber terrain walks’ we expose them to some very compelling lessons about the fragility and interdependence of our digital networks and critical infrastructure,” Rear Adm. Janice Hamby, said. “You will be able to bring back to your principal a better understanding of the implications of reliance upon and operating from a man-made domain and a recognition of the value proposition of investing in both education in the domain and in network and critical infrastructure enhancements.”