The U.S. Army Reserve recently announced its first cyber general. Col. Robert Powell Jr. will serve as the deputy commanding general, cyber of the 335th Signal Command (Theater) and commanded the U.S. Army Reserve Cyber Protection Brigade from 2016 to 2019.

He recently mobilized to support the Cyber National Mission Force, U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Maryland.

A Tennessean, Powell graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1991 and commissioned through ROTC. He started his Army career as an Armor officer with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, and joined the Army Reserve in 2004 as a military intelligence officer.

Maj. Gen. Stephen J. Hager, deputy commander of operations, Cyber National Mission Force, U.S. Cyber Command, hosted the promotion ceremony at the U.S. Army Signal Corps’ home.