The same week the Navy will stand up its new Fleet Cyber Command in Maryland, the service established the Navy Cyber Forces (CYBERFOR) at Joint Expeditionary Base, Little Creek-Fort Story in Norfolk, Va.
Vice Adm. Denby Starling will command both the new CYBERFOR and the Naval Network Warfare Command (NETWARCOM), according to the Navy.
Cyberspace is a war fighting battle space, he said.
“Supremacy in this battle space will ensure that our ships, aircraft and submarines remain dominant in the age of information warfare,” Starling added.
CYBERFOR is the type commander for cryptology, signals intelligence, cyber, electronic warfare, information operations, intelligence, networks and space disciplines. CYBERFOR will report to Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces, according to the Navy.
CYBERFOR’s mission is to organize and prioritize manpower, training, modernization and maintenance requirements; and capabilities of command and control architecture and networks; cryptologic and space-related systems; and intelligence and information operations activities; and to coordinate with type commands (TYCOM) to deliver interoperable, relevant and ready forces at the right time, at the best cost, today and in the future, the Navy said.
NETWARCOM has laid the foundation for CYBERFOR. That work prepares the Navy to move to the next level of cyber warfare, Starling said.
He is confident that CYBERFOR and NETWARCOM will take the steps needed for the Navy to succeed in battle and in cyber.
“We have seen our nation and America’s Navy triumph time and again in the face of equally daunting circumstances,” Starling said. “We shall do no less.”
Vice Adm. Barry McCullough will command Fleet Cyber Command/United States 10th Fleet. It will be based at Fort Meade, Md., alongside the National Security Agency.