MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –
Cyber experts from the U.S. military, allied nations, federal agencies, colleges and private sector companies joined U.S. Cyber Command’s Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Network and the West Virginia National Guard this month for Locked Shields 2025, one of the largest and most advanced international live-fire cyber resilience exercises in the world.
Hosted by NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence, this year's exercise took place in May 2025 at the WVNG Morgantown Readiness Center in Morgantown, West Virginia. It marked the 15th annual simulation of Locked Shields, a high-stakes scenario involving a fictional country being invaded by a hostile state, bringing a virtual reality simulation to life.
A strategic planning team detailed every aspect of the fictional country, down to its water systems and social media platforms. Legal advisors, including Lt. Col. Christopher “Scott” Applegate, Staff Judge Advocate, WVNG, ensured all operations complied with international laws. Cyber experts coordinated efforts with Estonian partners and local teams on real-time threat intelligence sharing, infrastructure defense strategies, and unified response plans. Over the course of the exercise, participants defended against nearly 10,000 simulated cyberattacks.
“This is a great opportunity to bring together a diverse legal community, including partners from foreign nations, to improve interoperability,” Applegate said. “It’s a fantastic event to test our legal skills, strengthen collaboration, and build trust that supports the security of our nation.”
Locked Sheilds set up perfect scenarios, challenging teams to defend critical infrastructure sectors - including energy, military and public services - against complex attacks designed to reflect real-world threats.
During the exercise, close to ten thousand cyberattacks were launched. Teams executed 28,936 system commands and contended with the simulated theft of 4,591 passwords. Reinforcing the necessity of public-private collaboration for the next generation of cyber defenders through hands-on engagement with real-time attack simulations. The exercise also emphasized legal interoperability and strategic decision-making, rounding out a comprehensive approach to modern cyber warfare.
"I'm amazed and so appreciative for the leadership and dedication shown here," said Brig. Gen. Patrick Chard, WVNG Director, Joint Staff. "These individuals are making a tremendous impact, and I'm glad to see this level of training happening right here in West Virginia."
Outside of Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Network, participants represented a wide range of organizations, including the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Defense Information Systems Agency, Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Reserves, Tennessee National Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, West Virginia University, Marshall University, and Duke University along with multiple technology companies such as Microsoft and Fortinet. International partners from Bulgaria, Greece, and Ireland joined overseas as part of the multinational blue team.
"Ireland has massively learned from this opportunity," said Lt. Col. Mark Conway. "We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and hope to continue the partnership going forward.”
As the Locked Shields 2025 exercise concluded, participants also took time to reflect on the history of cooperation. Among those in attendance were Adam Akridge from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Frank Vitale, aide to the Secretary of the Army; William J. Ryan, regional director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Region 3; and our very own Brig. Gen. Patrick Chard of the West Virginia National Guard. Their presence highlighted the importance of allied collaboration and readiness.
“I’m amazed and truly appreciative of the leadership and dedication to excellence shown here,” Vitale said. “These professionals are making a tremendous impact, and I’m grateful they’re doing this critical training in West Virginia. The level of expertise on display is incredibly impressive.”
Several members of the WVNG played key roles in the Locked Shields 2025 exercise. Maj. William Keber and Warrant Officer 1 Adam Brenner are both West Virginia National Guard members on active duty with U.S. Cyber Command’s Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Network. They both organized and facilitated the United States’ participation in Locked Shields 2025. Maj. Peter Kofod, assigned to Special Operations Detachment – Europe, provided important technical subject matter expertise and senior advisement. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Whitmer, assigned to the Critical Infrastructure Protection Battalion provided essential support in threat analysis and network defense. Their combined efforts reinforced the Guard’s role in strengthening national cyber resilience.
WVNG hosted the U.S.-based segment and supported both military and civilian participants. The WVNG's developing cyber team engaged in the exercise to gain valuable experience and identify areas for further training and investment.
Bill Ryan, Regional Director for CISA Region 3, praised the effort, saying, "Year in and year out, this exercise provides excellent training and a chance to learn from our national and international partners. We're proud to be part of it and committed to supporting its continued growth."
As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and persistent, exercises like Locked Shields remain a vital tool for building readiness, resilience and cooperation across borders and sectors.