Snowdall takes command of Data Processing Unit

Lt. Col. Daniel Snowdall takes command of the Virginia National Guard's Fairfax-based Data Processing Unit from Lt. Col. Lesley Kipling during a change of command ceremony July 17, 2016, in Fairfax, Virginia. Col. William L. Zana, commander of the 91st Troop Command, presided over the exchange of the unit guidon that represented the transfer from Kipling to Snowdall.

Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer, the Virginia National Guard's Assistant Adjutant General - Army, presented Kipling with the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of her outstanding performance as commander.

Snowdall most recently served as the chief of cyber branch in the operations division of the Army National Guard. Kipling will begin a fellowship in cyber strategy at the National Defense University Information Resources Management College at Fort McNair, Virginia.

Originally formed in January 1975 to provide data processing support to National Guard Bureau, the mission of the DPU has evolved over the years and is now poised to conduct full spectrum cyber operations. The unit has more than 160 Soldiers whose missions include conducting web risk and vulnerability assessment in support of U. S. Army Cyber Command and other federal agencies. They are also prepared to support the Commonwealth of Virginia with computer network defense and recovery operations.