Pentagon’s Cyber Chief Nominee Urges ‘Whiz Kids’ to Safeguard Nation in Digital Warfare.

A‍ Stronger Defense Against⁢ Cyber ‍Threats

In a Senate Armed Forces Committee‌ hearing on July 20, the ​deputy commander of‌ U.S. Cyber Command‍ emphasized the importance of consolidating the⁤ Department of‍ Defense’s cyber warfare ⁢operations. This “dual hat” consolidation ‍aims⁢ to enhance critical infrastructure⁣ resiliency and enable the Pentagon to​ proactively eliminate cyber threats ​before they materialize.

Air⁣ Force Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, the proposed successor‌ to Army Gen. Paul Nakasone, believes ‍that merging the U.S. Cyber Command⁤ commander and​ National ​Security Agency director positions under one leadership role is in the nation’s best interests. Lt. Gen. Haugh explained⁣ that⁣ the overlap between signals⁢ intelligence and the cyber environment necessitates a single leader who can ⁣align the ​capabilities of both organizations, similar to​ the structure of U.S. Special Operations ​Command.

The consolidation‍ of these positions is part of the‍ proposed‌ $886.3 billion Fiscal⁤ Year 2024 defense budget, known as the National Defense ‌Authorization Act (NDAA).⁤ Additionally, the NDAA provides new assets and authorities to ‍the Department of Defense’s ⁤cyber warriors, recognizing the ongoing battle in cyberspace.

Investing in ⁣Cyber Warriors

One of the‍ main challenges faced by Cyber Command is the shortage of cyber warriors.‌ Senate Armed Forces Committee Chair Sen. Jack‌ Reed and ranking member⁤ Sen. Roger Wicker highlighted this issue during the hearing. Lt. Gen. Haugh acknowledged the difficulties in training and retaining‍ personnel⁢ with specialized skills and discussed⁤ the‌ need ⁣for ⁤private sector coordination with⁣ the DOD’s cyber warfare efforts.

Under the‌ proposed NDAA, Cyber ⁣Command will have the authority to invest ‍in training infrastructure and courses,‍ allowing ⁣the military branches to focus on recruiting individuals with ⁢initial skills⁢ aligned ⁣to ‍the command’s standards. This change will significantly impact cyber readiness and enable Cyber Command to build out‌ advanced training ranges for its workforce.

Lt. Gen. Haugh also mentioned the recruitment efforts being undertaken ‍by Cyber Command and the military branches. They are targeting young individuals interested in computer science and challenging‌ them to ​join the⁤ force ⁢that is‌ actively fighting against real enemies in ‌the virtual battleground.

Addressing Cyber Threats and Emerging Technologies

During the confirmation hearing, Lt. Gen. Haugh was questioned about the role of artificial intelligence in cyber ​warfare⁤ and the threats posed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and⁢ other malicious actors. Senators also inquired about lessons learned from Ukraine’s war with Russia and the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act⁤ (FISA).

Lt. Gen. ⁢Haugh emphasized‌ the​ importance of renewing Section⁣ 702, stating that it is an irreplaceable foreign intelligence authority that enables the intelligence community to…