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Thursday, July 9, 2009
NELSON: SENIOR PENTAGON OFFICIAL AFFIRMS STRATCOM’S CONTINUED CYBER ROLE

July 9, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson welcomed a senior Pentagon official’s strong support for U.S. Strategic Command’s continuing role as the overseer of a new cyber-security sub-unified command devoted to protecting American citizens, businesses and military networks, and developing offensive cyber-weapons.

Today, General James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified at a Senate Armed Services Committee that the Pentagon’s new Cyber sub-unified command formally established in June will continue to report to STRATCOM, located south of Omaha at Offutt Air Force Base. Cartwright, a former STRATCOM commander, stated that the new Cyber mission will be responsible for day-to-day work associated with cyber both offense and defense. He stated that STRATCOM would integrate cyber capabilities at a strategic level and that the cyber command would focus at the tactical level to protect military networks.

Nelson, a member of the committee, asked Cartwright what support the Pentagon would provide to STRATCOM in overseeing the new cyber-security sub-unified command. Cartwright testified that STRATCOM will have all the support it needs for its “very significant” role in cyber-security and support for U.S. strategic forces.

Nelson also asked if the cyber responsibility was “pulled from STRATCOM” how the cyber mission would remain integrated with STRATCOM. Cartwright responded that from the inception of the cyber-security mission some wanted the new cyber command to be a standalone command, while others a sub-unified command under STRATCOM. The Pentagon has now established it as a sub-unified command reporting to STRATCOM and Cartwright expressed support for that structure.

“My personal opinion on this is that a standalone functional command that would be cyber-only has the potential to … become disconnected from the war fighter and then would not be as readily integrated into the war fight and the schema maneuver and planning. And, so, my position has been that I believe that at least until something fundamentally changes it is most appropriate for this command to be at the sub-unified level and that STRATCOM offers us the venue to integrate it with general purpose forces,” Cartwright testified.

Nelson said: “I agree with General Cartwright and have advocated STRATCOM’s role as the combatant command over cyber in providing for the war fighter and the overall national security.  Retaining Cyber as a sub-unified command ensures that we have the right focus at both the strategic and tactical levels.”

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