Military Cyber: An Evolution In Command Relationships

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United States Cyber Command is less than four years old. The merger and stand down of the Joint Functional Component Command for Network Warfare (JFCC-NW) and the Joint task Force for Global Network Operations (JTF-GNO) formed the bulk of the new organization. 9 This new construct integrated offensive and defensive cyber capabilities in one organization resulting in efficient and effective planning and execution of cyberspace operations. United States Cyber Command is tasked with operations to defend DOD information networks and to conduct full spectrum military cyberspace operations across all domains. 10 United States Cyber Command is also tasked with ensuring US freedom of action in cyberspace and denying freedom of actions to our adversaries. This freedom of action requires a clear relationships to reach full potential. In a GAO report to congress on July, 2011 we find the following: DoD has assigned authorities and responsibilities for implementing cyber operations among combatant commands and military services; however, the supporting relationships necessary to achieve command and control of cyber operations remain unclear. According to the National Military Strategy for Cyberspace Operations, we can achieve cyberspace superiority only if command and control relationships are clearly defined. 11 The goal of reaching full potential in cyberspace operations starts with building close relationships between the cyber service components and finding the best way to support the GCCs. This process underway and is constantly reevaluated. The formation of USCYBERCOM was important. It elevates cyberspace in the mind of the warrior and in the consideration of the planner. If the desire is to operationalize cyber it needs to m... ... middle of paper ... ...of how much improvement the next evolution will bring. Works Cited 11 United States Government Accountability Office: Report to Congressional Requesters, “Defense Department Cyber Efforts: DoD Faces Challenges in Its Cyber Activities”, US Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC, May 2011, page 6, http://www.gao.gov/assets/330/321818.pdf 12 Andrew Fecikert, “The Unified Command Plan and Combatant Commands: Background and Issues for Congress”. Congressional Research Service, CRS Report for Congress, www.crs.gov, http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42077.pdf, page 15 13 Joint Publication 3-05, “Special Operations”, http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp3_05.pdf, April 18, 2011, page III-2 14 Zachary Fryer-Biggs, “U.S. Regional Commanders get New Cyber Muscle”, Defensenews.com, http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120609/DEFREG02/306090001/, June 9, 2012

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