U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) is ramping up its new acquisition authority with its first ever industry day on Oct. 27, according to the command’s chief information officer (CIO).
Speaking at a cyber security event on Aug. 9, George “Dennis” Bartko discussed CYBERCOM’s growing acquisition role granted by Congress in the fiscal year 2017 defense authorization bill, which was intended to boost the command’s ability to purchase its own technological capabilities.
The industry day will take place Oct. 27 at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Arthur Lundahl Conference Center in Springfield, Va.
“We expect to authorize the acquisition authority this quarter, the last quarter of fiscal year ‘17,” said Bartko, who also serves as director of CYBERCOM’s Capabilities Development Group. “With our own acquisition authority, we can start acquiring directly. That helps with streamlining a lot. However, because the authority Congress gave us is incremental and steps up at certain points in the path, we will continue to acquire things through others; the services, other agencies, etc.”
CYBERCOM is now authorized $75 million per year for rapid acquisition of cyber capabilities and solutions, a process to be carried out by the Capabilities Development Group.
Previously, CYBERCOM lacked the autonomy to seek out and develop its own tools in the same manner as its partner organization, the National security Agency (NSA).
Speaking at Federal Computer Week‘s Cybersecurity Summit, Bartko also addressed the possible splitting of the dual leadership role of CYBERCOM and the National Security Agency held currently by Adm. Mike Rogers.
“With respect to streamlining our acquisition, it won’t make any difference,” Bartko said, who believes the separation of leadership roles won’t affect the level of integration between the two organizations.
No official plans have been announced by the Pentagon about how and when such a split of leadership would occur.
CYBERCOM is looking to purchase capabilities that fulfill its integration requirement to maximize the utilize of the Department of Defense’s Cyber Mission Force.
“When I’m looking at solutions, whether in my CIO hat or looking at solutions in my Capabilities Development Group Director hat, if I don’t see those solutions being highly integrated or if I think that they’re standing alone off on their own, I’m probably going to think that they’re not going to be very effective. Then, I probably won’t support them.”
A follow-up announcement on CYBERCOM’s industry day is expected soon on the General Service Administration’s FedBizOpps.gov site with further details on how to register and who will be participating.