WASHINGTON – The District of Columbia National Guard activated the 260th Special Purpose Brigade March 7 at the D.C. Armory, establishing the only brigade in the U.S. Army specifically designed to coordinate military support to civil authorities and protect critical infrastructure in the nation’s capital.
The brigade was created in response to Executive Order 14339 and a subsequent directive from the secretary of war, which called for the immediate establishment, training and equipping of a dedicated National Guard unit capable of supporting public safety operations and strengthening coordination between military forces and civilian security partners in the District.
Brig. Gen. Craig Maceri, land component commander for the District of Columbia National Guard, presided over the activation ceremony as Soldiers stood in formation and the brigade’s colors were uncased – a military tradition signaling that a unit has been formally activated and is ready for duty.
"The activation of the 260th Special Purpose Brigade represents the deliberate execution of national guidance,” Maceri said. “This unit provides the critical command and control structure that enables us to execute a broad spectrum of scalable operations while effectively integrating with our federal and district partners."
The brigade will serve as a command-and-control headquarters responsible for coordinating military support to civil authorities, enabling National Guard forces to rapidly integrate with federal and local agencies responsible for safeguarding the capital.
Washington presents a unique operational environment. Within the District sit the constitutional institutions of the federal government, foreign embassies, national monuments and millions of annual visitors. Protecting that environment requires close coordination between military forces and civilian agencies during major national events, security operations and emergencies.
Among the brigade’s key partners is the U.S. Marshals Service, which regularly works alongside the District of Columbia National Guard during security operations in the capital.
“Partnerships like this are essential in Washington,” U.S. Marshal Jurgen Soekhoe said. “The 260th Special Purpose Brigade brings a level of coordination and readiness that allows federal law enforcement and the National Guard to operate as a unified team when security demands it.”
Col. Lawrence Doane, commander of the 260th Special Purpose Brigade, said the brigade structure ensures continuous coordination with partner agencies while maintaining the ability to expand rapidly when missions require additional forces.
“This brigade gives us an operational foundation for unity of effort,” Doane said. “It ensures continuity of planning and coordination so that when the situation changes, we can respond quickly and with clarity.”
The brigade also reflects the unique federal role of the District of Columbia National Guard, which reports directly to the president rather than to a state/territory governor. That structure places the organization at the center of national-level security planning for the capital.
The unit’s new patch connects the brigade’s modern mission with its historical lineage. The design features three red stars and two red bars drawn from the District of Columbia flag, itself derived from the coat of arms of George Washington’s family.
The brigade carries forward the heritage of the 260th Military Police Command, a District of Columbia National Guard headquarters brigade that, for decades, coordinated military police operations supporting civil authorities and emergency response across the District until its inactivation in 2011. Its lineage reflects a long-standing mission of integrating National Guard forces with federal and local partners to protect critical institutions and maintain security in the Nation’s Capital.
At the center of the patch is an upright, unsheathed sword representing the brigade’s role in providing security and safeguarding the people who live, work and visit the nation’s capital.
“This new patch reflects something bigger,” Doane said. “It represents our commitment to protecting every person who sets foot in the Nation’s Capital.”
With the uncasing of its colors, the 260th Special Purpose Brigade begins its mission as a dedicated force supporting public safety, infrastructure protection and civilian–military coordination in Washington.