Cyber Command Update
Written by Harrison Donnelly
MIT 2010 Volume: 14 Issue: 4 (May)
DOD, SERVICES CREATE ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED
TO PROTECTING MILITARY NETWORKS—AND POSSIBLY
TO WAGE OFFENSIVE CYBER-OPERATIONS.
Following the confirmation by the Senate in May of General Keith Alexander to head U.S. Cyber Command, the Department of Defense and military services are moving ahead in establishing organizations dedicated to protecting military networks—and possibly to wage offensive cyber-operations.
U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) is a subordinate unified command under U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). Its service components are the 24th Air Force; Army Forces Cyber Command (ARFORCYBER); Marine Corps Forces, Cyberspace Command; and U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet.
Many aspects of the new organizations, their working and reporting relationships, policies and personnel are still being worked out. Nevertheless, some or all are expected to achieve full operating status by the end of the year, assuming their place in the battle against the growing efforts to enter and bring down U.S. military networks by hostile outsiders.
President Obama’s appointment of Alexander, who will continue also to command the National Security Agency, had enjoyed widespread support. However, his confirmation was delayed for several months as members of Congress raised questions about key aspects of cyber-policy, including concerns that establishment of U.S. Cyber Command would lead to the “militarization” of cyberspace.
During his April Senate confirmation hearing, Alexander made clear that the focus of his new command would be on strengthening and protecting military networks. “This command is not about an effort to militarize cyberspace,” he said. “Rather, it’s about safeguarding our military assets.”
Based at Fort Meade, Md., USCYBERCOM will comprise two existing organizations, including the Joint Functional Component Command-Network Warfare, which has been a USSTRATCOM subordinate command responsible for developing offensive capabilities. The other is the Joint Task Force-Network Operations, which operates and defends the Global Information Grid. It has also been under USSTRATCOM, but has been headed by the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency.
USCYBERCOM attained initial operational capability (IOC) status on May 21. As the command stands up to full operational capability (FOC), the Department of Defense continues to review requirements in coordination of USSTRATCOM.
USCYBERCOM’s mission statement calls for it to plan, coordinate, integrate, synchronize and conduct activities to direct the operations and defense of specified DoD information networks, and prepare to, when directed, conduct full spectrum military cyberspace operations in order to enable actions in all domains, ensure U.S./allied freedom of action in cyberspace and deny the same to our adversaries.
SERVICE COMPONENTS
The Air Force component, known as the 24th Air Force, is located at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and commanded by Major General Richard E. Webber. It is a numbered Air Force, subordinate to Air Force Space Command.
The major subordinate commands under 24th Air Force are the 689th Combat Communications Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla.; 688th Information Operations Wing, Lackland AFB; and 67th Network Warfare Wing, Lackland AFB. More than 5,400 men and women conduct or support 24-hour operations involving cyberspace operations for 24th Air Force, including 3,339 military, 2,975 civilian and 1,364 contractor personnel. In addition, more than 10,000 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel directly support the 24th Air Force and Air Force Space Command mission.
The 24th Air Force attained IOC on January 22, with FOC projected for October. The Navy component is called U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, and also includes the U.S. 10th Fleet. The latter is a revived unit designation last used during World War II, when it served as the organizational home of Navy forces fighting German submarines in the Battle of the North Atlantic.
Vice Admiral Bernard J. McCullough III is the commander of both Fleet Cyber Command and 10th Fleet, which are located at Fort Meade. McCullough has said publicly that the combined commands will have roughly 180 personnel, including cryptologists, information operations professionals and intelligence specialists.
The Army intends to establish a new ARFORCYBER headquarters within the Washington, D.C., area no later than October. The Army Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Signal Command (Army) and portions of the 1st Information Operations Command (Land) will be subordinate units to ARFORCYBER. Additionally, Army Intelligence and Security Command will be under the operational control of ARFORCYBER for cyber-related actions.
The total command strength will exceed 21,000 soldiers and civilians, and there will be no new growth or impact to Army end strength. The cost to establish ARFORCYBER will be funded from within existing fiscal resources.
The Army is on track to meet full operational capability for ARFORCYBER in October 2010. The Army achieved initial operating capability last fall by utilizing the Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command as the interim ARFORCYBER headquarters. ♦