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Army Guard Capt. Brian Gifford, a Guilderland resident, retires after 27 years of Army and Air Guard service

Latham, NY (07/31/2025) — New York Army National Guard Capt. Brian Gifford, a Guilderland resident, retired after 27 years of service in both the Air National Guard and Army National Guard, during a July 30 ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham.

Gifford, a cyber security expert, most recently served as mission command branch chief in the New York Army National Guard's information and communications office, or G-6.

Col. Diane Armbruster, the New York Army Guard's chief information officer, praised Gifford as "the Leatherman tool of the G-6", who could do every job he undertook very well.

"He's provided excellent leadership to the entire signal and cyber community of the New York National Guard," Armbruster said.

In his remarks, Gifford thanked his wife Maggie and his children for their support during a career which began in 1998 when he joined the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing.

His family, along with people he worked with in every job "made my service possible," Gifford said.

'It has been an honor and a privilege to serve for the last 27 years," Gifford said.

Gifford enlisted in the Air National Guard as a guidance and control maintainer, before becoming a voice and switch network operator. These assignments in the 109th Airlift Wing took him to both Antarctica and the Arctic while supporting the wing's missions there.

Gifford then served for ten years in the New York National Guard's 2nd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team, which is based at Stratton Air National Guard Base. The team is trained to identify and classify radiological, nuclear, biological and chemical hazards and weapons.

Gifford served as a hazard plum modeler and then communications team chief. While rising to the rank of master sergeant, he provided leadership during the 2nd CST's responses to Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy, as well as the many times the 2nd CST was placed on standby to support important events like the Watkin's Glen races.

For three years, Gifford served as the chair of the Civil Support Team Communications Working Group.

In 2019, in order to become a cyber security officer in an Army National Guard Cyber Security Team, in accepted a direct commission as a second lieutenant in the New York Army National Guard.

He supported the New York National Guard G-6 as network control center deputy and in 2023 he mobilized to Fort Meade, Maryland to serve with the 126th Cyber Protection Battalion. On that mission he provided cyber operations capabilities to U.S. forces worldwide.

Gifford has a master's degree in business administration and a master's degree in computer science and holds a number of cyber security and systems administration certificates. He is also a certified ethical hacker and hacking forensic investigator.

His awards include two awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army and Air Force Commendation Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Air Force Training Ribbon.

He is also a recipient of the Bronze Order of Thor from the Military Cyber Professionals Association.

Media Attachments

LATHAM--Army National Guard Capt. Brian Gifford receives the Meritorious Service Medal from Col. Diane Armbruster, the chief information officer for the New York National Guard , during his retirement ceremony marking after 27 years in the New York Air and Army National Guard on July 30, 2025 at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, New York. Gifford retired while serving as Mission Command Branch Chief for the New York National Guard Information Office.

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