Cyber Senior Enlisted Leaders Connect Over the Human Factor

On July 9, 2026, a group of senior enlisted leaders (SEL), both current and retired, met at Club Meade for the inaugural Cyber SEL Quarterly Breakfast. The breakfast, supported by the Military Cyber Professionals Association (MCPA) and championed by Cyber National Mission Force’s (CNMF) Command Sergeant Major Ronald Krause and Senior Chief Petty Officer Curtis Greer, was the first of what is poised to become a new tradition with tremendous impact across the force.

“This event has been a long time coming. We survive in this organization because of the strength of our noncommissioned officers,” Krause said. He went on to state the goal of the breakfast is to continue to build partnerships and create a network of resources for the cyber SEL community. 

Chief Master Sergeant Bryan Neumann served as the co-host for the breakfast along with Krause. “Why are we focusing on the Senior Enlisted Leader? Because you are the glue in the organization,” Neumann said. 

Krause and Neumann welcomed the group of over a dozen attendees, including three retired senior enlisted leaders who stressed the importance of community even after active service. 

Retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5) James Richards, representing the MCPA Fort Meade Chapter, also addressed the group, adding, “I charge this group to sustain the purpose and feed the purpose.” He explained the core mission of the MCPA, developing American military cyber professionals, and how the creation of this quarterly breakfast directly aligns to that mission.

In addition to this breakfast series, the MCPA supports other enlisted-focused initiatives, including an annual scholarship to the child of an enlisted member of the American military cyber community. The scholarship amount has grown over the years to the current level of $20,000, which is awarded at the closing ceremony of HammerCon (the annual national convention of the MCPA). The scholarship selection committee includes the current and last few SELs of U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency (NSA). 

After networking over food and drink, made available by MCPA, the group took turns introducing themselves and sharing a personal detail or two. The service diversity was on full display, with SELs hailing from across the joint force.

“I’d say mission accomplished,” said Neumann. “The goal was to focus on the human factor and we’ve done that.” 

The plan for the breakfast is to run quarterly with a series of guest speakers. The date and time of the next gathering will again be distributed through the cyber SEL community in the Fort Meade vicinity. If any applicable SELs are interested in participating, they are encouraged to reach out through their support channels. Outside of Fort Meade, where there may be other significant concentrations of cyber SELs, the MCPA is steadfast in its commitment to support.

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