DOD Still Evaluating Need for Independent Cyber Force, CYBERCOM Head Says

U.S. Army Gen. Paul Nakasone, the head of the U.S. Cyber Command and a 2023 Wash100 awardee, shared on Friday that he and the Department of Defense are still evaluating the possibility of a new force generation model for his organization amid ongoing deliberations over establishing an independent cyber branch.

Speaking at an Intelligence and National Security Alliance event, he said he wants CYBERCOM to evolve as cyberthreats grow increasingly large and complex, Breaking Defense reported Friday.

Congress required the CYBERCOM-DOD study under the fiscal year 2023 defense budget.

Meanwhile, the reconciled form of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act omits a Senate provision compelling the secretary of defense and the National Academy of Public Administration to conduct an independent study on the necessity of an independent cyber force.

Mieke Eoyang, the DOD’s deputy assistant secretary for cyber policy, warned in September that establishing such an organization would be challenging due to the variety and specificity of missions across the military services. An independent cyber force would have to learn the technology and warfighting needs of the other branches, she explained.