United States Cyber Command

The US Defence Department has created "United States Cyber Command" (CYBERCOM). This is controversial, both for the fragmented nature of the US military's cyber-defence resources and the issue of offensive capabilities. The closest Australian equivalent is the Defence Signals Directorate's Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) opened in January 2010.

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United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) is a subunified command under United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). It was scheduled for an ctober/November 2009 initial operating capability (currently delayed) and an October 2010 full operational capability. There are some excellent reasons why the Secretary of Defense chose to initiate a subunified warfighting command for the cyberspace domain, but the situation facing the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Federal Government will require USCYBERCOM to develop into a full combatant command (COCOM) in the next 5 years. ...

From: USCYBERCOM: The
Need for a Combatant Command versus a Subunified Command
By David M.
Hollis, National Defense University, 2010

The character of cyberspace, the requirement to share situational awareness, and a need for coordination of cyber effects crossing geographic areas of responsibility (AORs) has driven continued centralization of cyberspace command and control (C2). This centralization confronts traditional command relationships and will likely generate friction between the future Commander, U.S. Cyber Command (CDR USCYBERCOM) and Geographic Combatant Commanders (GCCs).

Easing of friction requires a careful balance of equities between these Joint Force Commanders (JFCs) and must provide for global unity of effort while not significantly constraining the GCC's freedom of action in the cyber domain. To achieve this balance, the Department of Defense (DOD) should specify establishment, exercise and institutionalization of a Cyber Coordination Authority (CCA). CCA will define, through DOD establishing directives, detailed authorities used by supported and supporting combatant commanders to adequately plan, prepare, and control reach back cyber capabilities organic to USCYBERCOM.

To exercise CCA on behalf of the GCC, a Director of Cyber Forces (DIRCYBERFOR) is required to advise, coordinate, integrate and perform staffing functions to weave robust cyber effects throughout the GCC's major lines of operations. CCA requires institutionalization within joint and service doctrines to legitimize cyberspace as a warfighting domain, formalize cyberspace operations, and provide an effective forum to advocate for resources.

From: "U.S. Command Relationships in the Conduct of Cyber Warfare: Establishment, Exercise,
and Institutionalization of Cyber Coordinating Authority", Franklin, David
M. , NAVAL WAR COLL NEWPORT RI JOINT MILITARY OPERATIONS DEPT , 03 MAY 2010