Pentagon Is Losing Its Cyber Warriors To The Private Sector

Military.com: Troops Are Getting Cyber Training and Then Rapidly Leaving the Military, Report Finds 

The military has been competing with the private sector to recruit and retain a workforce with critical cyber skills -- a decade-long contest where pay, purpose and personnel management have driven the flow of talent, and the services appear to be losing, according to a government watchdog report. 

Troops who receive extensive cyber training, lured by the lucrative private sector, are parting ways with the military services quicker than some branches can offset the cost of that training. 

The Pentagon's efforts have been hamstrung by unclear service obligations and mistracked staffing data in some branches, according to a report from Congress' Government Accountability Office that was released Wednesday.  

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WNU Editor: Losing personnel to the private sector is nothing new. The US Air Force loses its pilots to the private sector. So now the Pentagon will lose its IT/cyber/software personnel to the private sector that provides more money and better benefits.

U.S. Cyber Command Task Force Conducted Its First Offensive Operation Last Year

Personnel with the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group monitor cyberattacks on the operations floor, known as the Hunter's Den. USAF/Joseph Eddins  

Warzone/The Drive: Cyber Command Task Force Conducted Its First Offensive Operation As The Secretary Of Defense Watched  

The operation is another sign of the rapidly evolving nature of warfare in the digital domain and the future importance of offensive cyber operations. 

A U.S. Cyber Command task force executed what is being described as its “first offensive cyber effect operation” against real-world cyber threats. While the exact nature of the operation and its target remains unknown, the event was significant enough for the U.S. Secretary of Defense to personally attend to watch the operation in action. 

The operation was conducted between February and August 2021 by a task force consisting of personnel from the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Cyber Operations Group, the Delaware Air National Guard’s 166th Cyber Operations Squadron, U.S. Navy’s Cyber Strike Activity Sixty-Three, the U.S. Air Force’s 341st Cyber Operations Squadron, and the Air Force Reserve. The task force executed the operation from February to August last year, although the Air National Guard (ANG) just announced it this week. While there have been other offensive cyber operations conducted by U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), this is the first conducted and acknowledged by this particular task force.  

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WNU Editor: Was this Cyber Command operation targeting Iran? .... ‘Cyber-attack’ hits Iran’s transport ministry and railways (The Guardian).

White House Wants To Split NSA And US Cyber Command

NSA/CYBERCOM/Central Security Service HQ on Fort Meade, MD. AP 

Defense One: Trump Officials Deliver Plan to Split Up Cyber Command, NSA 

An end to the “dual hat” arrangement has been debated for years — but the timing raises questions. The plan requires Milley's certification to move ahead. 

Trump administration officials at the Pentagon late this week delivered to the Joint Chiefs of Staff a proposal to split up the leadership of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command. It is the latest push to dramatically reshape defense policy advanced by a handful of key political officials who were installed in acting roles in the Pentagon after Donald Trump lost his re-election bid. 

A U.S. official confirmed on Saturday that Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley — who along with Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller must certify that the move meets certain standards laid out by Congress in 2016 — received the proposal in the last few days. 

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WNU Editor: I do not think this is going to happen. But here is a good explanation on why Cyber Command and the NSA should be split up .... Split Up NSA and CYBERCOM (Defense One). 

 More News On Reports That The White House Wants To Split NSA And US Cyber Command 

Trump administration looks to split NSA and US Cyber Command -- C4ISRNet 

Defense officials look at splitting up NSA, CYBERCOM -- FOX News 

Trump administration proposes splitting Cyber Command from the NSA -- Endgadget 

Pentagon under pressure from Trump administration to split NSA and Cyber Command -- CNN Trump's Pentagon is making a lame-duck bid to split U.S. Cyber Command from the NSA -- The Week Trump Administration Is Criticized Over Proposal to Split Cyberoperations Leadership -- New York Times 

Democrats cry alarm over proposal to split up NSA, Cyber Command amid hacking crisis -- Politics 

Pentagon Plan on Cyber Split Draws Strong Hill Criticism -- Military.com/AP 

Congress, experts worry about potential spy agency reorganization amid hack response -- Reuters

President Obama Has Decided To Keep The NSA And The Pentagon's Cybercommand Under The Same Commander

Photo from NDTV

Obama To Keep Security Agency And Cyberwarfare Under A Single Commander -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — President Obama has decided to keep the National Security Agency and the Pentagon’s cyberwarfare branch under the same command despite concerns that it concentrates too much power in the hands of a single military official responsible for both surveillance and directing a growing arsenal of cyberweapons.

As a practical matter, the decision means that Mr. Obama must appoint a four-star military officer to succeed Gen. Keith B. Alexander, the first person to simultaneously run the two organizations, when he retires early next year. Only a military commander can run Cyber Command, which is responsible for defending the military’s computer and sensor systems and carrying out offensive computer-network attacks.

But that also means the N.S.A. will be run by someone who has spent a career in the military culture, with the mind-set that engenders.

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More News On President Obama Deciding To Keep The NSA And The Pentagon's Cybercommand Under The Same Commander

White House to keep NSA, cyber oversight together -- Washington Post/AP
White House to preserve controversial policy on NSA, Cyber Command leadership -- Washington Post
White House says no plans to split NSA, Cyber Command -- Reuters
U.S. to Stick With Combined NSA, Cyber Command Posts -- Wall Street Journal
Obama task force urges overhaul of NSA spy tactics, keeps NSA director and chief cyber commander job as one -- FOX News
NSA, Cyber Command to continue close relationship -- UPI
White House sticks with double duty for NSA director -- The Hill
White House: NSA and Cyber Command to stay under one boss -- Ars Technica

Cybercommand Chief: No U.N. Control Over The Net

Cybercommand Chief Opposes U.N. Net Control -- Washington Times

‘Government survivability’ issue.

BALTIMORE — The commander of the U.S. Cyber Command said Thursday that he does not favor giving the United Nations the power to regulate the Internet.

Some regulations are needed to protect critical networks that control electrical power, banking, transportation and other key elements of society, Army Gen. Keith Alexander, who is also director of the National Security Agency, said after a speech to a security conference.

But asked whether the U.N. should have a regulation role, Gen. Alexander said: “No. I’m not for regulating, per se. I’m concerned about it, and this is a tough question. I would say, generally speaking, I’m not into that portion of regulating as you would espouse.”

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My Comment: The commander of U.S. Cyber Command has a point of view that is completely opposite from what China is now pursuing, which is that it should be the international community (i.e. the U.N.) that supervises and oversees the internet. My prediction .... the Chinese are going to be ignored by the U.S..

On a side issue that concerns the web and China, there is a must read article from Threat Level titled .... Feds Say China’s Net Censorship Imposes ‘Barriers’ to Free Trade. This is a brilliant strategy from the Obama administration, and a must read for China watchers. (Hat Tip: Information Dissemination)

Cyber Attacks Will Target Power Grids And Destruction Of Heavy Machines

Computer-Based Attacks Emerge As Threat Of Future, General Says -- Washington Times

The general in charge of U.S. cyberwarfare forces said Tuesday that future computer-based combat likely will involve electronic strikes that cause widespread power outages and even physical destruction of thousand-ton machines.

Army Gen. Keith Alexander, commander of the new U.S. Cyber Command, also said that massive losses of private and public data in recent years to computer criminals and spies represent the largest theft in history.

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My Comment: In the past I was always critical of Cyber Command`s talking about threats .... but offering no details. I guess they heard the critics .... because they are now giving some details .... albeit these details are accidents that occurred because of operator error.

U.S. Cyber Commander Gives Military Network Security A 'C'

Photo: US officials say government and private systems are attacked millions of times per day. Photo from The BBC

US Top Brass Gives Its Military Networks A "C" for Security -- Tech Eye

The Pentagon's Cyber Command top brass General Keith Alexander has said that the US military networks had a long way to go before they could defend themselves against a serious cyber attack.

Alexander said that things are better than they were, but the military needed to do more to remedy its vulnerabilities.

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More News On How Secured Are US Military Networks

US cyber war defences 'very thin', Pentagon warns -- BBC
US military lacks the trained people and authorities it needs to respond to cyber attack -- Canadian Press
US lacks people, authorities to face cyber attack -- Boston Herald/AP
US military computer networks vulnerable: general -- AFP
General gives US military computer networks a 'C' in safety -- CBR
U.S. Cyber Commander Gives Network Security a 'C' -- Defense News
Cyber Command Chief: DoD Moving to the Cloud -- NextGov

U.S. Cyber Command Is Now Fully Operational

Capt. Jason Simmons and Staff Sgt. Clinton Tips update anti-virus software for Air Force units to assist in the prevention of cyberspace hackers July 12 at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. The Air Force is setting up the Air Force Cyberspace Command soon and these Airmen will be the operators on the ground floor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

It Begins: Military’s Cyberwar Command Is Fully Operational -- The Danger Room

Fifteen thousand military computer networks became protected on November 3, 2010. Those ensconced within the informational phalanx called the event Cyber Command Day. They lived only to face a new challenge — the war against the Machines.

In truth, yesterday wasn’t quite so dramatic. The Department of Defense announced that the military’s new command for protecting its networks against cyberassault had achieved “full operational capability,” meaning the new U.S. Cyber Command, which opened for business in May, is 100 percent ready for duty, just a month behind schedule.

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More News On U.S. Cyber Command

Military ready for war in cyberspace -- Reuters
US Cyber Command becomes 'fully operational' -- The Register
DOD: CYBERCOM ready for business, one month late -- Stars And Stripes
Cyber Command now fully operational -- Defense Systems
U.S. Cyber Command A Wild Card at Fort Meade -- Odenton Patch
U.S. Cyber Command up and running -- UPI
U.S. Cyber Command Opens Doors -- Information Week

U.S. Cyber Command Misses Deadline To Be Operational

Image: The Pentagon is still determining what U.S. Cyber Command needs to do to reach "full operating capability" by October 2010. DOD

Pentagon's New Cyber Command Misses Deadline To Be Fully Operational -- FOX News

The Pentagon's new Cyber Command center, designed to shield the military's 15,000 networks and more than 7 million computers from foreign hackers, won't be fully operational by Friday's deadline, Stars and Stripes reported.

Gen. Keith Alexander, the center's commander, told Congress last week that he had his leadership staff in place but that he was struggling to fill out the rest of the organization, which needs more than 1,000 skilled employees.

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More News On Cyber Command

New US Cyber Command Still Not Operational -- Tech Week
Cyber Command slips behind schedule -- Reuters
At CYBERCOM deadline, Pentagon still reviewing 'full operating' status -- FOX News
U.S. Cyber Command not ready for prime time -- Federal Computer
Beware the Cyberscare: Big Brother wants more power over the Internet -- Washington Times editorial

Elite US Cyber Team Revealed For The First Time

Elite US Cyber Team Courts Hackers To Fight Terrorists -- Breitbart/AFP

An elite US cyber team that has stealthily tracked Internet villains for more that a decade pulled back its cloak of secrecy to recruit hackers at a notorious DefCon gathering here Sunday.

Vigilant was described by its chief Chet Uber as a sort of cyber "A-Team" taking on terrorists, drug cartels, mobsters and other enemies on the Internet.

"We do things the government can't," Uber said. "This was never supposed to have been a public thing."

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My Comment: So .... we now have elite teams in the U.S. cyber world. Hmmmm .... for some reason I am not surprised.

Pentagon Unveils Their Cyber Command Center

Image: From Department of Defense

Pentagon Launches Salvo in War to Protect an Army of 7 Million -- FOX News

War is coming -- a war of ones and zeroes, that is.

The Pentagon has unveiled a Cyber Command center, designed to shield the military's 15,000 networks and more than 7 million computers from foreign hacker attacks, that will pool resources from a variety of military intelligence agencies to proactively prevent assaults.

It's a pre-emptive, all-out attack on the more than 100 foreign intelligence agencies working to penetrate American computer systems and steal U.S. weapons technology.

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My Comment: This is actually old news .... the difference is that the Pentagon is now getting a new and shiny building for their operations.

America's Cyber Command Is Now Operational

The Pentagon is channelling a growing volume of troops and resources into countering cyber warfare. Photograph: Mike Nelson/AFP/Getty Images

US Appoints First Cyber Warfare General -- The Guardian

Pentagon creates specialist online unit to counter cyber attack amid growing fears of militarisation of the internet.

The US military has appointed its first senior general to direct cyber warfare – despite fears that the move marks another stage in the militarisation of cyberspace.

The newly promoted four-star general, Keith Alexander, takes charge of the Pentagon's ambitious and controversial new Cyber Command, designed to conduct virtual combat across the world's computer networks. He was appointed on Friday afternoon in a low-key ceremony at Fort Meade, in Maryland.

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More News On America's Cyber Command

DoD Cyber Command is officially online -- Navy Times
Gates establishes U.S. Cyber Command, names first commander -- U.S. Air Force
Army announces plans for Cyber Command HQ -- The Hill
Fort Meade named Cyber Command HQ -- Maryland Gazette
Army planning cyber command at Fort Belvoir -- Stars And Stripes
Lynn Notes Cyber Command’s Significance -- US Department of Defense
With Chief in Place, Military Preps for Cyberwarfare -- AOL News

U.S. Navy Establishes Cyber Fleet

U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Barry McCullough as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources (November 2009). (Defense News)

From Signal Scape:

Although the U.S. Navy has been in the cyber arena for many years, today the service officially moved into the operational cyber domain as Vice Adm. Barry McCullough, USN, took command of the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet. At the commissioning/re-commissioning of this new command and revitalized fleet, Adm. McCullough officially became the Navy’s primary connection with the other armed services and joint community as well as the Navy’s leader in the cyber operational and tactical realm.

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My Comment: I predict that over time this will become one of the most important posts in the defense establishment.

U.S. Cyber Command Is In Limbo

Pentagon Computer-Network Defense Command Delayed By Congressional Concerns -- Washington Post

The Pentagon's plan to set up a command to defend its global network of computer systems has been slowed by congressional questions about its mission and possible privacy concerns, according to officials familiar with the plan.

As a result, the Defense Department failed to meet an Oct. 1 target launch date and has not held a confirmation hearing for the command's first director.

Although officials stress that the cyber command, as it is known, is an effort to consolidate existing offensive and defensive capabilities under one roof and involves no new authorities or broadening of mission, its potential for powerful new offensive capabilities -- some as yet unimagined -- have raised questions on Capitol Hill about its role, according to national security experts familiar with the concerns.

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My Comment: This is another example on what is becoming the standard operating procedure for this administration .... state a problem, make a great speech, but then fail to implement.

But on this case .... when one contemplates on what such an agency will be able to do .... it is probably a good thing that people are now pulling back and pondering on what will be the implications and consequence from establishing such an agency.

Questions On U.S. Cyberwarfare Policy Now Being Raised

GETTY IMAGES Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele A. Flournoy are spearheading efforts to develop new defenses for military computer networks.

U.S. Takes Aim At Cyberwarfare -- Washington Times

Data sharing, defense against unknown attackers among issues.

The Pentagon's decision last week to establish a unified cybercommand to defend the military's computer networks and attack those of U.S. enemies raises at least as many questions as it answers, analysts and experts in the field say.

"How does it fit into the strategic goals of defending our economy and our way of life?" asked Marcus Sachs, who helped set up the U.S. military's first cyberwarfare unit in 1998.

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Update: Defend America, One Laptop at a Time -- New York Times opinion

My Comment: The above picture reminds me of a high tech project that I was involved with in the late 1980s. I assembled a team to make this high tech project a reality, and my associate put together the management and money people together. The management team looked like the picture above .... they wanted all the money, the prestige, and the publicity .... and they wanted us to do the work.

I think history is repeating itself.

StratCom Plows Ahead on Cyber

From DoD Buzz:

You are the commander of Strategic Command, charged with coming up with an implementation plan for the new cyber command within 60 days. But there’s going to be a new head of cyber command, a four-star just like you, and Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander has the Big Mo on his side. And Alexander is known as an almost crazily foxy guy who has rebuilt the NSA and will be largely dependent on folks from NSA for most of his capabilities. Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton is known as one of the brainiest generals around. Hmmm. Who’s going to win this bureaucratic game will be great fun to watch.

For some idea of just what may lie ahead, have a look at this April 7 speech by Chilton, which has been quoted by the two cyber warriors with whom I speak. This is not about improving the country’s IT capabilities in terms of efficiency and information sharing. This is about life and death on the battlefield.

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My Comment: Call me naive .... but I always like to believe that different organizations can work together, and be happy while doing it. It seems that in this new cyber command organization, peace and quiet will be two words that will not be used to often.

U.S. Cyber Command: 404 Error, Mission Not (Yet) Found

Lt. Col. Tim Sands (from left), Capt. Jon Smith and Lt. Col. John Arnold monitor a simulated test April 16 in the Central Control Facility at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. They use the Central Control Facility to oversee electronic warfare mission data flight testing. Portions of their missions may expand under the new Air Force Cyber Command. Colonel Sands is the 53th Electronic Warfare Group AFCYBER Transition Team Chief, Captain Smith is the 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron Suppression of Enemy Air Defensestest director, and Colonel Arnold is the 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Carrie Kessler)

From The Danger Room:

Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates ordered the military to start setting up a new “U.S. Cyber Command.” It’s a move that’s been discussed in defense circles for more than a year. But despite the announcement — and despite the lengthy debate – no one in the military-industrial complex seems all that sure what this new fighting force is supposed to do, exactly.

Officially, the Pentagon still has a few months to figure things out. Gates told his troops in a Tuesday memo that they have until September 1st to come up with an “implementation plan” for the new command. But there’s a ton to figure out in the next ten weeks. As Gates notes, that plan will have to “delineate USCYBERCOM’s mission, roles and responsibilities,” detail the command’s “minimum requirements” to get up and running, and sort out its “relationships” with the rest of the military – and the rest of the government.

In other words, just about everything.

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My Comment: The Danger Room asks the same questions that I asked when I reported on this story last week .... both of our observations are the same .... it appears that everything is up in the air right now on what will be the mission statement and objectives of this new command.

If I was to have any input, I would (in a nutshell) give it a defensive and an offensive mandate. Defensive by keeping and maintaining America's line of communications and networks free from malicious infiltration. Offensive .... to me this involves the disabling and corrupting the lines of communications and networks of our adversaries.

US Military Cyberwar Force Will Work With NSA

Situation Room: The Threat Operations Center at NSA, where the nation's top cybersleuths are based. Khue Bui for Newsweek

From The Register:

Priority is net 'defense'. As in Department of Defense.

The long wrangle among the US military about who gets to be in charge of cyber warfare and who gets all the resulting pork appears to have been settled. Questions remain, however, regarding the level of America's readiness to take offensive military cyber action against enemies presumably overseas.

Reuters reports that the main decisions on the US military cyber command were announced yesterday at the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Robert Gates signed an order to create the new organisation, intended to be based at Fort Meade outside Washington and subordinated to the head of the US National Security Agency (NSA), widely believed to be the most powerful crypto, intercept and eavesdropping agency in the world.

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My Comment: Recent news reports on the creation of a Cyber Command structure have focused on the defensive nature of such a group. But the question that should also be asked is .... will this same group be responsible for initiating offensive operations against specific targets?

My guess is yes ... but it is only when this new command is operating that the true extent and mandate for what it's responsibilities are will then be known.

Pentagon Approves Creation Of Cyber Command

From Reuters:

WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - The Pentagon will create a Cyber Command to oversee the U.S. military's efforts to protect its computer networks and operate in cyberspace, under an order signed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday.

The new headquarters, likely to be based at Fort Meade, Maryland, outside Washington, D.C., will be responsible for defending U.S. military systems but not other U.S. government or private networks, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

Asked if the command would be capable of offensive operations as well as protecting the Department of Defense, Whitman declined to answer directly.

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My Comment: And so it begins .... a new terrain to pursue war.

Barack Obama Announces New White House Office To Combat Cyber Terrorism

President Barack Obama arrives to deliver remarks on securing the nation's cyber infrastructure, Friday, May 29, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Obama Setting Up Better Security For Computers -- Yahoo News/AP

WASHINGTON – America has failed for too long to protect the security of its computer networks, President Barack Obama said Friday, announcing he will name a new cyber czar to press for action.

Surrounded by a slew of government officials, aides and corporate executives, Obama said the U.S. has reached a "transformational moment" when computer networks are probed and attacked millions of times a day.

"It's now clear this cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation," Obama said, adding, "We're not as prepared as we should be, as a government or as a country."

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More News On President Obama's Coordinated Cyber-Security Plan

Obama Says U.S. Data Systems Under Constant Attack -- Wall Street journal
Obama Outlines Coordinated Cyber-Security Plan -- New York Times
Obama's strategy for countering cyber attacks -- Christian Science Monitor
Obama to appoint cyber-security advisor -- L.A. Times
PROMISES, PROMISES: Battling cyber turf wars -- AP
Barack Obama announces new White House office to combat cyber terrorism -- Times Online
Obama setting up better security for computers -- AP
Security Experts React to Obama’s Cybersecurity Report -- Wall Street Journal