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VDF cyber professionals recognized with state award

Cotton Puryear

FORT PICKETT, Va. — First Lt. (Va.) Kurt Luther accepted a 2025 Commonwealth Technology Award on behalf of the Virginia Defense Force 31st Cyber Battalion, 1st Regiment, from Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams, commander of the Virginia Defense Force, Oct. 19, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.  

The VDF received the award for Cybersecurity and Privacy Initiatives – Local for providing cyber security assistance to Virginia localities from the Virginia Information Technology Agency.  

“The 91st Cyber Brigade of the Virginia Army National Guard and the 31st Cyber Battalion of the Virginia Defense Force conducted cybersecurity assessments for Commonwealth of Virginia localities, including four cities, seven counties and one town,” the award write up said. “The goal: strengthen their government’s cybersecurity posture. These missions were conducted from January 2024 to May 2025 and included all regions of Virginia.”  

According to the VITA website, state and local teams across Virginia were celebrated in September 2025 at the 2025 Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium for their outstanding information technology initiatives that are shaping government services across the Commonwealth.  In 2025, 15 winning projects were honored with Commonwealth Technology Awards across four categories, recognizing innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, security and service to Virginians.  

“The value of our cybersecurity mission lies in its direct impact on the safety and security of Virginia’s citizens,” Diddams wrote in his quarterly update to the VDF. “Our support provides the first line of defense against cyber threats that could disrupt essential services, compromise personal data, or undermine public trust. Whether we’re securing communication networks for emergency response, collaborating with state agencies to fortify infrastructure or training to counter sophisticated cyberattacks, our work ensures that Virginia remains a safe and thriving place to live, work and serve.”

Read more:

https://www.vita.virginia.gov/news–events/latest-news/name-1059049-en.html

First Lt. (Va.) Kurt Luther accepts a 2025 Commonwealth Technology Award on behalf of the Virginia Defense Force 31st Cyber Battalion, 1st Regiment, from Brig. Gen. (Va.) Rich Diddams, commander of the Virginia Defense Force, Oct. 19, 2025, at Fort Pickett, Virginia.