USCYBERCOM

Even though the Department of Defense has named cyberspace as the newest domain of warfare, the United States is not adequately organized to conduct cyber war. United States Strategic Command USSTRATCOM is the functional combatant command responsible for cyberspace but suffers from numerous problems that prevent it from properly planning, coordinating, and conducting cyberspace operations. Among the problems facing USSTRATCOM are insufficient manning, an overly diverse mission set, and the recent failures within America8223s nuclear enterprise. To overcome USSTRATCOM8223s problems and to provide the cyber domain the prominence needed to properly protect the United States, a new functional combatant command for cyberspace must be established. This command, United States Cyberspace Command USCYBERCOM, should be given responsibility for conducting worldwide cyber attack, defense, and intelligence. USCYBERCOM should also serve as a supporting command to the geographic combatant commanders and must establish an in-theater headquarters presence similar to the land, air, maritime, and special operations forces. USCYBERCOM personnel should be involved in all phases of campaign planning and ensuring the incorporation of cyber activities throughout all phases of war. The cyberspace domain ignores geographic boarders and will frequently require near-instantaneous attack or defense actions. USCYBERCOM must be given the ability to conduct trans-geographic combatant command and worldwide action and many cyberspace tools can be used in multiple theaters simultaneously. United States Special Operations Command USSOCOM provides a model and precedent for a functional combatant command that has an in-theater presence and authority to conduct worldwide operations.