The District of Columbia National Guard’s 260th Special Purpose Brigade has acquired its first maritime security vessel, giving a U.S. Army unit in the nation’s capital its first dedicated waterborne platform and strengthening the guard’s ability to secure D.C. waterways, critical infrastructure and major national events. “This new maritime capability is more than a vessel — it is an investment in the partnerships, readiness and modern capabilities that enable us to better support the local, state and federal agencies that protect our nation’s capital every day,” said Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, D.C. National Guard interim commander.
Washington’s security environment is extraordinarily complex, with protected airspace, vast federal infrastructure and overlapping jurisdictions framed by two prominent rivers that require a robust maritime security presence. Brigade Guardsmen routinely support local and federal law enforcement, as well as fire and emergency services during special security events, like the Fourth of July celebration.
The brigade was established under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in 2025 to fight crime in Washington and was designed to improve coordination between military forces and the district’s civilian security agencies. Army Col. Larry Doane, the brigade’s commander, said in a July 14, 2026, War Department news release that its role is clear: “Homeland defense is a team sport. We’re the connective tissue between military response and the agencies that secure the capital every day.”
The brigade’s new vessel, acquired through a partnership with the Navy, will support waterborne operations during special security events. It will serve mostly as an observation and assessment platform, allowing civil support teams to conduct hazard detection aboard vessels and expand vigilance in coordination with local authorities.
“We’re not replacing law enforcement — we’re increasing their capacity,” Doane said. “When the district needs more eyes, more reach, more resilience, that’s where we come in.”
The new vessel complements modernization efforts within the brigade’s 547th Transportation Company, which has an expanding fleet of tactical vehicles — including the Polaris MRZR, an ultralight turbo diesel combat vehicle — to maneuver through huge crowds and restricted areas during events. These vehicles allow the 547th to help local authorities with armed patrols, traffic management, rapid movement across secured zones, medical services, and missions to protect political leaders and other dignitaries.
“The 547th has to be not only one of the most effective, but one of the coolest transportation units in the world,” Doane said. “Not only does it operate light medium tactical vehicles, and heavy tactical vehicles — but it has a fleet of (off-road tactical) vehicles and now a growing fleet of security vessels to support maritime security.”
The 260th Special Purpose Brigade’s mission reflects the National Defense Strategy’s core objective of defending the homeland: Resilience deters adversaries. Doane said predators search for easy opportunities but find none in Washington.
“When someone goes into our metros and sees you can’t even get away with a purse snatching and petty crime, that matters,” he said. “Presence prevents bad actors from believing an attack will succeed.”
The new vessel was transferred to the 260th on June 26 in Williamsburg, Virginia, and was transported later that day to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington.
With one maritime security vessel operational and four more planned, the brigade is working with the Navy to choose platforms that are effective and interoperable with the local law enforcement fleet. The goal is seamless coordination across agencies that guard the nation’s capital.
“We used to rely on the oceans for homeland defense,” Doane said. “We can’t rely on that anymore. We rely on resilience and deterrence — our enemies must know we’re prepared.”