Maryland Air National Guard cyber operators exercise with Romanian counterparts

Maryland Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Nathanael Lock and Senior Airman Anthony Davis, cyber operators assigned to the 276th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, conduct purple team operations during the Saber Guardian 25 cyber exercise as part of DEFENDER 25, June 12, 2025, in Bucharest, Romania. Airmen from the Maryland Air National Guard who participated in purple team cyber operations collaborated with the blue team (defensive cell) to utilize offensive cyber tactics to access red team (offensive cell) infrastructure and deny their ability to affect mass military movements. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11 to June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, build unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment, and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises — Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian — Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Laura Virtue)(This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out access badges.)