# 5 suicides at Cyber Command

> Five suicides in 5 weeks at Fort Meade’s Cyber Command spark mental health crisis.
- Title: 5 suicides at Cyber Command · The Banner | Shortify
- Summary: Five suicides in 5 weeks at Fort Meade’s Cyber Command spark mental health crisis. Five civilians working at U.S. Cyber Command and NSA died by suicide…
- Keywords: us cyber command, national security agency, fort meade, suicide, mental health, iran war, cyber warfare, security clearance, news, local, suicides, Cyber
- Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/community/local-news/fort-meade-cyber-command-suicides-RC6YIRJO6ZBFVHAPAF62ZDIU3M
- Author: Matti Gellman
- Published: 2026-09-28T09:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: us cyber command, national security agency, fort meade, suicide, mental health, iran war, cyber warfare, security clearance, news, local
## Suicide cluster at Cyber Command
Five civilians working at U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency died by suicide within a month this summer.
## Mental health efforts underway
The agencies and Anne Arundel County military installation have tried to address mental health for 18,000 service members and 41,000 civilian employees.
## Lawmakers demand action
Maryland’s U.S. senators and Rep. Sarah Elfreth are asking for resources to prevent further tragedies.
## High-stress cyber work
Cyber operators work long hours in secure rooms identifying cyberattacks, intensified by the Iran war and AI development.
## Isolation from family
Many cyber operators isolate themselves from friends and family due to long shifts and high-stress environments.
## Culture of silence
A culture of silence continues to threaten leaders despite mental health becoming an increasing priority.
## Ryan Shaban’s perspective
An Army veteran and cybersecurity professional, Shaban says many don’t report mental health concerns due to fear of losing security clearance.
## Kevin Paulson’s story
Kevin Paulson, a 40-year-old NSA cyberspace effects officer, died by suicide after working up to 16-hour shifts.
## Paulson’s family background
Paulson’s sister Leslie Maynard says he was an extrovert with a sarcastic sense of humor and a nearly photographic memory.
## Paulson’s death details
Paulson died on July 6 after a morning run, having scheduled an email to apologize to his boss on June 30.
## Maryland suicide rate
In 2012, Fort Meade’s service members had a suicide rate six times higher than Maryland’s state average.
## Current mental health efforts
Fort Meade has set up kiosks with resources and holds annual suicide prevention workshops since May.
## What happens next
Lawmakers aim to change the Pentagon’s suicide cluster definition to include civilians and add mental health resources.
## Key takeaway

Five civilians working at U.S. Cyber Command and NSA died by suicide within a month amid heightened cyber warfare stress.