Maryland National Guard Activates 628th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion

# What happened Warfare (IEW) Battalion at Fort Washington Park on Sept. 13, 2026. Governor Wes Moore and Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead attended the ceremony where leaders unfurled the battalion colors and introduced its four subordinate companies.

# Why it matters The 628th provides division-level, multi-domain intelligence and electronic warfare capabilities: analysis and exploitation, targeting support, and collection across air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace. That set of abilities helps commanders understand operational environments and support decisions in complex large-scale combat operations.

# How the unit was formed Over roughly 15 months, state Guard leaders recruited personnel and built the unit while continuing to support deployed missions and major exercises. Lt. Col. Asa Coates leads the battalion and Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan McGlone serves as the senior enlisted advisor. The unit was organized to be adaptable to specific intelligence and targeting needs of division operations.

# Identity and heritage The battalion adopted the nickname "The Blackjacks" and the motto "Own the Shadows." The name connects to Maryland's Civil War-era intelligence origins and the clandestine networks that supported Union operations, including Harriet Tubman's contributions as a guide, spy, and scout.

# Organizational context The 628th was activated after the earlier establishment of the 629th IEW Battalion in 2024. That prior activation and associated organizational changes helped accelerate the 628th's development by providing lessons learned and best-practice sharing. Col. Kristie Roy, commander of the 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade, framed the battalion as part of the doctrinal footprint for future multi-domain warfare.

# Recognition and continuity Retired Maj. Gen. Linda L. Singh was recognized at the ceremony for advancing a modernized force structure. Retired Maj. Gen. Edward Leacock was acknowledged for long-standing mentorship within Maryland's military intelligence community.

# Immediate implications The battalion is intended to support both homeland response and international missions. Maryland leadership described the activation as preparing a force capable of responding today and adapting to future operational demands, providing commanders with clearer intelligence in contested, multi-domain environments.