Office of the Governor
JOHN CARNEY

Executive Order 46

EXECUTIVE ORDER
NUMBER FORTY-SIX
TO: HEADS OF ALL STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
RE: NATIONAL GUARD SUPPORT FOR 2020 ELECTION

WHEREAS, Delaware will use technology in all aspects of the election process and systems in the 2020 election cycle currently underway; and

WHEREAS, Delaware’s data security technology protects the State by monitoring for potential threats, helping to maintain confidentiality, and preventing data tampering and interference with data; and

WHEREAS, Delaware and other states across the country were targeted by international actors in attempted cyber-attacks to disrupt the 2016 elections; and

WHEREAS, due to Delaware’s ongoing cybersecurity monitoring tools, the attempted infiltration into Delaware’s elections system in 2016 was thwarted; and

WHEREAS, in order to avoid the threat of cybersecurity attacks on Delaware’s 2020 elections, it is prudent to ensure efforts are made to protect the elections from outside interference; and

WHEREAS, the 166^th Cyberspace Operations Squadron of the Delaware National Guard has unique cybersecurity capabilities critical to assist in protecting the Delaware elections infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Title 20, Chapter 1, Section 171 of the Delaware Code, in the best interest of the State, the Governor may call out units or members of the Delaware National Guard for training or other nonemergency functions as deemed appropriate.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN C. CARNEY, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby DECLARE and ORDER the following:

The Delaware National Guard’s 166^th Cyberspace Operations Squadron (“Squadron”) is hereby activated to State Active Duty to assist in the 2020 election.
Upon request, the Squadron is authorized to assist and support the Delaware Department of Elections and the Delaware Department of Technology and Information (“DTI”) in the following cybersecurity related activities:
1. Provide advice to DTI to aid in the development of strategies, plans, and solutions for preventing, protecting, and defending against, responding to, mitigating the effects of, and recovering from cyber incidents.
2. Conduct exploration of and training on solutions and procedures which may address relevant monitoring, detection, or analysis needs to assess risks and threats.
3. Offer technical and architectural review support that can be used to identify best practices and potential areas of risk.
4. Provide expert consultation, benchmarking, and information sharing during the short-term activities leading specifically to the 2020 election cycle, including the following: conducting threat modeling around specific elevation focused scenarios, performing threat and vulnerability assessments, completing risk level assessments, and developing or recommending appropriate mitigation countermeasures in operational and nonoperational situations.
5. Provide experts to advise or augment DTI analytical and incident response resources on election day to ensure informed and rapid response activities.
6. Training and exercises after the election relating to detection and monitoring, analysis and fusion, assessments, response activities, and information sharing.
The Squadron is also authorized to provide cybersecurity assistance, in a manner similar to the assistance outlined for DTI above, to any other state entity, upon request, with election-related responsibilities or systems used or needed for the 2020 elections.
This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and expire on December 31, 2020.