Accession Number:

ADA545641

Title:

Expanding the Department of Defense's Role in Cyber Civil Support

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIV NORFOLK VA JOINT ADVANCED WARFIGHTING SCHOOL

Personal Author(s):

• Donovan, Kevin M.

Report Date:

2011-06-17

Pagination or Media Count:

93.0

Abstract:

The 2010 National Security Strategy identifies cybersecurity as one of the most serious security, public safety, and economic challenges faced by the United States today. The Nations information and communications infrastructure, inextricably linked to U.S. economic prosperity, social well-being, and innovation, is not secure and poses a serious national security risk. Preventing cyber attacks against Americas critical infrastructures and reducing vulnerability to cyber attacks are extraordinary challenges requiring a concerted national effort among the federal government, state and local government, and the private sector. Although tasked in a supporting role, the Department of Defense DoD can and should do more to help protect the Nations critical infrastructure against cyber threats. The thesis of this paper is that the Department of Defense, beyond its current role, should leverage the unique organization, skills, and demographics of the Reserve Component to assist civil authorities in securing and defending the national critical infrastructure against a major cyber attack. The research will establish the significance of the cyberspace threat and examine existing strategy, policy, roles, and responsibilities to assess gaps and shortfalls in the DoDs capability to support civil authorities in protecting the Nations critical infrastructure. Finally, the research provides recommendations on how the Reserve Component, in particular the National Guard, can best be used to accomplish the expanded critical infrastructure civil support mission.

Descriptors:

• *INFRASTRUCTURE
• *VULNERABILITY
• *CIVIL AFFAIRS
• *NATIONAL SECURITY
• POLICIES
• UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
• RISK
• STRATEGY
• SECURITY
• THESES
• COMMUNICATION AND RADIO SYSTEMS
• PUBLIC SAFETY
• LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• UNITED STATES
• NATIONS
• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• NATIONAL GUARD
• MILITARY RESERVES

Subject Categories:

• Civil Defense

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE