By Carlo Munoz
Senior leaders with U.S. Fleet Forces Command have initiated a reorganization of the Navy’s cyberwarfare directorate to comply with the standup of the new U.S. Cyber Command, according to a service statement issued yesterday.
The “administrative realignment” of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/10th Fleet approved by U.S. Fleet Forces Command “will enhance the Navy’s ability to remain a leader in cyberspace operations and provide the command and control structure necessary to achieve decision superiority in the information domain,” according to the statement.
Specifically, administrative control for the sea service’s cyber warfare, network and information operations, as well as its cryptologic and space forces will be realigned “consistent with the recent assignment of Navy Cyber Forces to U.S. Strategic Command, who in turn delegated operational control of these forces to U.S. Cyber Command,” according to the service statement.
As the Navy component command for CYBERCOM, they will be responsible for manning, training and equipping “all [command, control and intelligence] forces afloat and ashore to generate required levels of current and future cyber force readiness,” according to the statement.
“This realignment solidifies the operational and administrative control of our cyber force” by enhancing the organizational structure of those forces, resulting in increased “operational readiness” within the Navy to execute cyberwarfare missions, Vice Adm. Barry McCullough, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet chief, said in the statement.
Additionally, 10th Fleet will assume administrative control for the subordinate shore commands that currently fall under the command’s operational oversight, and will continue to serve as the Navy’s Service Cryptologic Component Commander (SCC) to the National Security Agency, it adds.
“The new cyber structure will provide unambiguous command and administrative control lines of authority and accountability of Navy cyber forces,” while providing proper authorities and accountability “in the right entities” within the Navy and DoD, the statement notes.