A History of the 170th Cyber Protection Team

By Maj. William Carraway
Historian, Georgia Army National Guard

 

 

Left: The 170th CPT wears the SSI of the 91st Cyber Brigade. Right: Soldiers of the 170th CPT at Fort Gillem in April 2026. Photo by Maj. William Carraway.

In 2015 the Georgia Army National Guard was selected to field one of the first three cyber protection teams in the nation.[1] Out of the 32 states that applied for a CPT, Georgia and California were selected to constitute a team each while a third team was to be split between three states.[2]

 

Major George Allen, right, relinquishes
command of the 170th CPT to Capt. Michael
Mallon, center. Photo by Maj. William Carraway.

The Georgia National Guard’s 170^th Cyber Protection Team was federally recognized October 2, 2016, at the Fort Gillem Enclave.[3] The activation followed more than two years of preparation including cyber exercises and partnership with federal and state agencies. Beginning in 2013 and carrying forward through the present, the 170^th has conducted a series of annual cyber exercises including Cyber Guard, Cyber Shield and Cyber Dawg, on a rotating basis.

 

In April 2017, the 170^th CPT deployed to Fort Meade, Md. in support of Cyber Command. For 12 months, the 170^th CPT provided network defense and cyber support to military operations.[4]

 

In August 2018, Maj. George Allen, who had led the CPT since its inception, relinquished command to Capt. Michael Mallon during a ceremony at Fort Gillem. Mallon was also an original member of the 170^th CPT and had served as a protection team chief during the unit’s deployment.[5]

 

Bolstered by 12 months’ experience at Cyber Command, the 170^th CPT continued to provide technical expertise for state and federal agencies. In 2019 and 2021, Soldiers of the 170^th CPT joined Ga. Air National Guard cyber experts from multiple units and agency representatives for Exercise Cyber Dawg. The collaborative exercise was held remotely in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.[6]

 

During Cyber Dawg 21, the 170^th had the opportunity to support the Georgia National Guard’s state partnership with cyber personnel from Argentina and the country of Georgia.[7] In November 2021, less than two months after Cyber Dawg 2, the 170^th was mobilized for twelve months in support of Cyber Command operations.

 

Approximately 800 National Guard Soldiers, Airmen, and civilian cyber professionals from around the world gathered for the Cyber Shield Training exercise
at Camp Robinson, Little Rock, Ark., June 2-16, 2023. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffery Reno.

In January 2023, command of the 170^th passed to Capt. Adam Tolar. In June, the National Guard conducted Exercise Cyber Shield 2023 at Camp Robinson, Ark. Personnel of the 170^th were among the more than 800 participants representing military, government, and civilian leaders from 35 states and five partner nations.[8] During the 2024 iteration of Exercise Cyber Shield, hosted by the Virginia National Guard, Soldiers of the 170^th CPT trained alongside personnel of the country of Georgia’s Ministry of Defense, Cyber Security Bureau.

 

The 170^th CPT expanded its global reach in 2024 by teaching defensive cyber operations to Moroccan Royal Armed Forces service members during African Lion 2024 in Agadir, Morocco in May 2024. In October, Soldiers of the 170^th were part of the Ga, NG’s response to Hurricane Helene which had widespread impact across Southeast Georgia.

 

Soldiers of the 170th CPT, and service members of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces conducted cyber training as part of African Lion 2024
in Agadir, Morocco. Photo by Sgt. Alisha Grezlik.

Major Adam Tolar relinquished command of the 170th Cyber Protection Team to Capt. Matthew S. Morrill during a ceremony at the 221st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion's headquarters in Forest Park, Ga. January 12, 2025, In September, Soldiers of the 170^th CPT again trained alongside state partners from the country of Georgia and Argentina during Cyber Dawg 25 in Augusta, Ga.[9]

 

Cyber personnel from the country of Georgia and Argentina train with Soldiers of the 170th CPT and Airmen of the Ga. ANG during Cyber Dawg 2025
in Augusta, Ga. September 24, 2025. Photo by Sgt. Chasity Williams.

The most recent iteration of Cyber Dog concluded September 25, 2026. Former 170^th CPT commander Lt. Col. Michael Mallon, and current Senior Cyber Advisor and Defensive Cyber Operations Element Chief for the Ga. ARNG, briefed visitors and participants on cyber defense scenarios honed over nearly a decade of experience with the 170^th CPT.

---

[1] Georgia Department of Defense, The Georgia Department of Defense Annual Report, 2015, Atlanta: 2015, 14.

 

[2] Georgia Department of Defense, The Georgia Department of Defense Annual Report, 2015, Atlanta: 2015, 39.

 

[3] National Guard Bureau, Organizational Authority 6-17, February 27, 2017.

 

[4] Georgia Department of Defense, The Georgia Department of Defense Annual Report, 2017, Atlanta: 2017, 19.

 

[5] William Carraway, “170^th Cyber Protection Team Gets New Commander,” Georgia Guardsman, Q3 2018, 6.

 

[6] Bryant Wine, “Cyber Dawg 2021,” Georgia Guardsman, Q3 2021, 14.

 

[7] Georgia Department of Defense, The Georgia Department of Defense Annual Report, 2021, Atlanta: 2021, 13.

 

[8] Jessica Roles, “Cyber Shield Hones Skills, Builds Partnerships,” Army.mil, June 20, 2023, https://www.army.mil/article/267703/cyber_shield_hones_skills_builds_partnerships

[9] Chasity Williams, “Annual Exercise Cyber Dawg,” ga.ng.mil, October 2, 2025, https://ga.ng.mil/Public-Affairs/Media/Article/4346115/annual-exercise-cyber-dawg-2025/#/