Accession Number:

AD1099508

Title:

What is the Purpose of the Cyber Mission Force

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

Institute for Defense Analyses Alexandria United States

Personal Author(s):

• Fischerkeller,Michael P.

Report Date:

2019-02-01

Pagination or Media Count:

24.0

Abstract:

General Paul Nakasone, Commander United States Cyber Command USCYBERCOM, recently and rhetorically posed the following question What function does U.S. Cyber Command perform that obligates society to assume responsibility for its maintenance This question is a variant of a theme that permeated strategic literature emerging after the end of World War II, i.e., what is the purpose of U.S. military forces In spite of its existential leanings, it is an important question for which USCYBERCOM should have a defensible response when queried about the Cyber Mission Force as, less than a year ago, all 133 cyber mission teams achieved Full Operational Capability. This essay derives an answer by adopting an analytical framework first appearing in post-World War II strategic scholarship, one based on considerations of geography and technology, and concludes that the chief purpose of the Cyber Mission Force should be to seize the initiative and gain superiority in the cyber strategic competitive space short of armed conflict.

Descriptors:

• Cyberspace
• cyberspace operations
• cyberattacks
• cybersecurity
• strategy
• history
• department of defense

Subject Categories:

• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
• Computer Systems Management and Standards

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE