FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Dec. 12, 2011) -- Members of the U.S. Army Cyber Command and Office of the Secretary of Defense hosted officials from Ministry of Defence of Brazil Dec. 5-7 in Virginia, symbolizing the second official visit from a foreign country since the command stood up over a year ago.
Army Cyber Commander Lt. Gen. Rhett Hernandez, Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Blackwood and other key leaders including Brig. Gen. Peter Zwack, G-3 director of operations, and Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Smith, deputy commanding general for Proponency, welcomed Brazilian Lt. Gen. Jose Carlos Dos Santos and the delegation of Brazil for a briefing, tour of operations and dinner at Mount Vernon, Va.
The Commanding General of Army Cyber Command met for a command briefing at Fort Belvoir's Nolan Building, followed by a tour of the Army Cyber Operations and Integration Center.
Representatives from the Headquarters Department of the Army, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy, U.S. Southern Command and other key Army Cyber leaders were present to answer questions and engage with the delegation.
"I hope we can show you who we are, where are from an Army Cyber Command point of view, share lessons learned and develop a partnership," said Hernandez.
Col. William Duggan, Operations Chief, G-3, explained the structure of the command and milestones achieved over the last year.
"Standing up Cyber Command last year, we understand the significance of defending all Army networks," he said. "We provide trained and ready forces to combatant commanders and regions such as the Pacific, CENTCOM, SOUTHCOM and cyber centers around the world."
Smith explained the importance of Proponency, and movement of cyberspace operations to the future of cyber.
"Cyberspace evolves nearly instantaneously. We need to be tied to the movement of cyberspace in order to further develop capabilities, we need to have exposure to our research labs, schools, and national and international partners."
During a gift exchange between Hernandez and Santos, the Brazilian leader expressed his gratitude for the hospitality of the Army Cyber Command and the significance of attending dinner at Mount Vernon Inn.
"We are both democratic countries and both obeying a constitution," Dos Santos said. "It has been a great honor to be here and represent my country. It was fitting to have dinner at the birthplace of your first president."
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