FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. –
Leaders from the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense and Embassy of Lithuania met Pennsylvania National Guard leaders and cyber professionals Oct. 27-28 here and at Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania, to discuss strategic planning, cyber defense and areas of future cooperation.
Lithuanian Vice Minister of Defense,Margiris Abukevičius, and his advisor, Tadas Sakunas, joined Monika Koroliovienė, Defense Counselor, Embassy of Lithuania, and Master Sgt. Valdas Kačerauskas, Deputy Defense Attaché, Embassy of Lithuania, during the visit to tour cyber defense facilities in Fort Indiantown Gap and Biddle Air National Guard Base.
“We’re always looking for ways to expand our partnership and we’re thrilled to engage with Lithuania wherever it makes sense to do so,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Regan Jr., Deputy Adjutant General – Air, who welcomed the delegation in his office.
This key leader engagement furthered the security cooperation between Lithuania and Pennsylvania in support of the National Guard State Partnership Program.
“I think cyber is an important pillar in our cooperation,” said Abukevičius.
The delegation visited the Pa. Guard’s Cyber Defense branch, led by Maj. Christine Pierce. Pierce leads a team of eight, who are currently preparing for the upcoming midterm election. The cyber branch has provided cybersecurity assistance during Lithuania’s elections and has partnered with the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security since 2016. It has also expanded to working with the private sector, colleges and universities, and a range of agencies at the local, state and federal levels.
The Pennsylvania National Guard State Partnership Program with the Lithuanian Armed Forces began April 27, 1993, after Lithuania regained its independence from the Soviet Union.
Pennsylvania’s partnership with Lithuania has deepened and grown tremendously since then, building strong bonds of trust from the individual and platoon level to the highest levels of the military and government.
During their 29-year partnership, Pennsylvania and Lithuania have conducted more than 750 military and training exchanges, in addition to numerous joint deployments to Afghanistan as part of joint police operational mentor liaison teams and provincial reconstruction teams.