The District of Columbia National Guard’s 260th Special Purpose Brigade (SPB) announced the commissioning of its first maritime security vessel.
The new vessel will allow the Guard the ability to secure the District’s waterways, critical infrastructure and major national events, officials with the brigade said.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) of the District of Columbia National Guard, said the organization’s newest maritime capability reflects both its 224-year legacy of service and its vision for the future.
“For 224 years, the District of Columbia National Guard has answered our nation’s call by evolving to meet the challenges of every generation. This new maritime capability is more than a vessel—it is an investment in the partnerships, readiness, and modern capabilities that enable us to better support the local, state, and federal agencies that protect our nation’s capital every day,” U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, Commanding General (Interim) of the District of Columbia National Guard, said.
The SPB was created under President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14339, which outlined additional efforts to address crime in the District of Columbia and enhance the federal efforts to take on policing in the city, as well as directing agencies to deploy more law enforcement, expand federal police presence and establish the SPB.
The brigade’s purpose, U.S. Army Col. Larry Doane, SPB commander said, was to be the “connective tissue” between military response and agencies that secure the capital.
“We’re not replacing law enforcement — we’re increasing their capacity. When the District needs more eyes, more reach, more resilience, that’s where we come in,” Doane said.
The SPB’s new vessel, sourced through a Navy partnership, will support waterborne operations during events like the Fourth of July, and will serve as an observation and assessment platform to enable Civilian Support Teams to conduct hazard detection about vessels and expand overwatch along the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department Harbor Patrol.