USCYBERCOM: A Centralized Command of Cyberspace

The unprecedented growth of cyberspace and related technologies has impacted nearly every aspect of human society and has opened a new domain in which information is communicated more rapidly than ever before. Recognizing the growing potential of cyberspace to impact national security, the Department of Defense DOD created the U.S. Cyber Command USCYBERCOM in 2010 by merging its offensive and defensive cyber units. But while the concept was to enable a unity of effort under one command, such a centralized command structure challenges the traditional authority that grants Geographic Combatant Commanders GCC full control over warfighting efforts in their areas of responsibility AOR. While there is growing agreement that the nature of defensive cyberwarfare calls for a collective long-term stance and unity of effort, offensive cyberwarfare operations differ in that they are typically targeted within an AOR, short-lived, and distinct to each situation. This raises the question of the GCCs authority to conduct offensive cyber actions in their respective AORs. However, such authority over offensive cyber operations would mirror the split structure that existed before the creation of USCYBERCOM and counter the intent of unity of effort. Rather, the fundamental characteristics of cyberspace, when fully considered, support the concept of centralized command and control of all warfighting operations in the cyber domain. USCYBERCOM must maintain centralized control of all DOD cyberwarfare efforts and synchronize its efforts through coordination cells embedded within each Combatant Command.