Polish up your resumes!
U.S. Cyber Command may soon be searching for a new commander.
Why?
Just last month, President Trump ordered the Department of Defense to begin initiating Cyber Command's elevation to a Unified Combatant Command. This is a huge progressive step forward for U.S. military infrastructure. Currently, Cyber Command is subordinate to U.S. Strategic Command and it mainly provides assistance and other augmentative services to the military's various cyberspace missions. The elevation will also remove Cyber Command from the National Security Agency, truly making it an independent UCC with authority over the cyberspace operational domain. As such, Cyber Command would basically set the operational standards for U.S. cyber operations. It would also assume responsibility for resource allocation, training, and mission execution.
Cyber Command is headed by Admiral Michael Rogers. He is the head of the National Security Agency. This is where things get interesting. Because of the elevation and split from the NSA, Secretary of Defense James Mattis will likely recommend a nominee to head Cyber Command. Sources say the elevation process should take about a year to fully implement, but for this blog's sake, timing is not important. What is important, however, is the direction in which a new cyber commander could take the nascent cyber UCC. The new commander would have the power to change U.S. tactical and strategic cyberspace behaviors. This will be something to watch. Will the U.S. maintain its defensive posturing in cyberspace, or will it become an offensive/preemptive, deterrent actor?
As you can imagine, Rogers is not thrilled with the idea of splitting his agencies apart. Even in the best case scenario, he will still lose power over one of his agencies. I would venture to say he will remain in charge of the NSA and likely will forfeit Cyber Command authority. Former SecDef Carter and DNI Clapper were not fans of Rogers' dual-hat arrangement. I am unsure of either Mattis' or Coats' opinion on the matter.
Regardless, as this elevation process develops, I think it would be worthwhile to follow. Whoever assumes the head position of Cyber Command will have an incredible opportunity to spearhead a new era of U.S. cyberspace policy. Will we see more Stuxnets aimed at North Korea? Or, perhaps, will see see more nuanced rhetoric aimed at creating impenetrable networks? Stay tuned.
Cyber Command is headed by Admiral Michael Rogers. He is the head of the National Security Agency. This is where things get interesting. Because of the elevation and split from the NSA, Secretary of Defense James Mattis will likely recommend a nominee to head Cyber Command. Sources say the elevation process should take about a year to fully implement, but for this blog's sake, timing is not important. What is important, however, is the direction in which a new cyber commander could take the nascent cyber UCC. The new commander would have the power to change U.S. tactical and strategic cyberspace behaviors. This will be something to watch. Will the U.S. maintain its defensive posturing in cyberspace, or will it become an offensive/preemptive, deterrent actor?
As you can imagine, Rogers is not thrilled with the idea of splitting his agencies apart. Even in the best case scenario, he will still lose power over one of his agencies. I would venture to say he will remain in charge of the NSA and likely will forfeit Cyber Command authority. Former SecDef Carter and DNI Clapper were not fans of Rogers' dual-hat arrangement. I am unsure of either Mattis' or Coats' opinion on the matter.
Regardless, as this elevation process develops, I think it would be worthwhile to follow. Whoever assumes the head position of Cyber Command will have an incredible opportunity to spearhead a new era of U.S. cyberspace policy. Will we see more Stuxnets aimed at North Korea? Or, perhaps, will see see more nuanced rhetoric aimed at creating impenetrable networks? Stay tuned.
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