WARRANT OFFICER IDENTITY
Quiet Professional
780
th
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE
BRIGADE (CYBER)
, Fort George G.
Meade, Maryland, publishes The BYTE
as an official command information
publication, authorized under the
provisions of AR 360-1, to serve its
Soldiers, Civilians, and Families.
Opinions expressed herein do not
necessarily represent those of 780th
MI
BDE or the Department of the Army.
All photographs published in The
BYTE were taken by 780th MI BDE
Soldiers, Army Civilians, or their Family
members, unless otherwise stated.
Send articles, story ideas, photographs,
and inquiries to the 780th MI Brigade
(Cyber) Public Affairs Officer (PAO)
and The BYTE Editor, Steven Stover at
steven.p.stover.civ@army.mil, or mail to
310 Chamberlin Avenue, Fort George G.
Meade, MD 20755, or call (301) 833-
6430.
Introduction to The BYTE, Warrant Officer Identity
COL Candy Boparai, Praetorian 6
Brigade Command Chief Warrant Officer –
An Honored Privilege
CW5 James Richards, CCWO, 780 MI BDE (Cyber)
Tracing the Brigade’s WO History
By Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Scott Spoor and Chief
Warrant Officer 5 James Richards, Command Chief War
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rant Officer, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber)
Visions of a Future Warrant Officer
CW5 Travis Ysen, Senior Electronic Warfare Technician,
ARCYBER
Identity over time
By Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chad Mastbergen, STA, Oper
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ations Support Element, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade
(Cyber)
The Warrant Officer's Identity as a Battalion Senior
Technical Advisor
By Chief Warrant Officer 4 Nolan Reed, Senior Technical
Advisor, 782d Military Intelligence Battalion (Cyber)
Being Chief
CW4 JP Dixon, J38 Mission Director, USCYBERCOM
Empowering Citizen Soldiers: Mentorship
Approaches for National Guard and Reserve
Soldiers
CW3 Nefertiti C. Stokes and CW4 Adam D. Crenshaw,
TFE VIII, 126th CPB
I’d Rather Be Me
CW3 Jason Ehlinger, Chief Operations Technician,
781 MI BN (Cyber)
Targeting in the Cyber Domain (131As)
CW3 Eric L. Rondeau, CNMF, JTF Three
The Army Cyberspace Capability Developer Tech
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nician Warrant Officer (170D): A Critical Enabler of
Modern Warfare
CW3 Joshua Wellman, 170D, D Company, OSE
Experts in the undefined: Cyber Warfare Techni
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cians and Offensive Cyberspace Operations
CW3 Justin Helphenstine, Technical Director, J3,
USCYBERCOM
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COL Candy Boparai
Commander
CSM Joseph Daniel
Command Sergeant Major
I
The Warrant Officer Identity
Retired CW3 Scott Brown, Brigade S-3 CUOPS,
780 MI BDE (Cyber)
Advisor, Not Arcanist
By Chief Warrant Officer 2 Justin Melendez, Cyber Warfare
Technician, 103 CMT, 782d Military Intelligence Battalion
(Cyber)
The Multi-Faceted Professional
By Warrant Officer Axel O. Nieves, Cyber Warfare
Technician, Detachment-Texas, 782d Military Intelligence
Battalion (Cyber)
Cyber’s Swiss Army Knives: Warrant Officers
WO1 Roy D. Cracraft, Exploitation Analyst, C Company,
782d MI BN (Cyber)
Warrant Officer Candidate
SSG Dereck J. Cottrille, HHC, 780 MI BDE (Cyber)
En Garde
By Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jason Ehlinger, Cyber
Operations Technician, 781st Military Intelligence Battalion
(Cyber)
782d MI BN (Cyber), Silens Victoria, DUI and Logo
Symbolism
Task Force Echo Color Casing Ceremony Signifies
the End of a Historic Mission, 780 MI BDE (Cyber)
By Steven Stover, Public Affairs Officer, 780th Military Intel
-
ligence Brigade (Cyber)
Praetorian Soldier and Civilians answer the call to
overcome recruiting and retention challenges, 780
MI BDE (Cyber
Corkboard
“Everywhere
and Always...In the
Fight!
Steve
Stover
Public
Affairs Officer
780th
MI Brigade (Cyber)
Editor,
The BYTE
On the Cover
PRAETORIAN
CHANGE OF COMMAND
FORT
GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. – Maj. Gen. Timothy
D. Brown, commanding general, United States Army
Intelligence and Security Command, hosted a change
of command ceremony whereby Col. Benjamin F.
Sangster relinquished his command of the 780th
Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), Praetorians, to
Col. Candy Boparai in a ceremony on McGlachlin
Parade Field, June 21
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II
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An Introduction to Warrant Officer
Identity
RAETORIANS, welcome to this
edition of The BYTE, where we
dive deep into the often-unseen
world of our Warrant Officer
teammates. This and the next few issues
will shine a spotlight on the remarkable
personal stories of the people of the
780th MI Brigade (Cyber) – individuals
whose daily work takes place in the
shadows of cyberspace, countering our
adversaries and safeguarding our nation’s
digital frontiers.
As I rejoin the Brigade after some time
away, I am met by familiar faces and also
many new team members.
Talking to
people across the Brigade, I am struck
by the fact that a shared humanity binds
us together, underscoring the common
drive and empathy that fuel our collective
mission. In a realm where the battlefield is
P
By COL Candy Boparai, Commander, 780th Military Intelligence Brigade
(Cyber)
no longer defined by physical terrain but
by lines of code and digital infrastructure,
I find the stories of these men and women
compelling. From high-stakes operations
to behind-the-scenes strategies, their
contributions are vital to our national
security, yet their stories often remain
untold.
In the pages that follow, you'll meet
some of the Warrant Officers who navigate
this complex, invisible battlefield with
unparalleled expertise and resilience. These
are the stories of innovation, personal
sacrifice, and commitment. You'll hear
from veterans and newcomers alike, each
offering a unique perspective on their
roles and experiences. You’ll also hear
their take on the theme for this issue,
which is a seldom explored aspect of
Warrant Officers – their identity in the
Warrant Officer cohort. Through their
narratives, we not only gain insight into
the human side of cyber warfare, where
every keystroke and every decision can
make a world of difference, we see a bit of
life as an elite Army technician and leader
from their eyes.
Join me as we walk a mile in a Warrant
Officer’s shoes to explore the profound
impact of their work, celebrate their
successes, and honor their dedication. This
is not just a look at the operations of our
Brigade but a tribute to the individuals
who embody the spirit and strength of
our modern military.
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