Mission
Secure Coast Guard Cyberspace: Operate and manage the Coast Guard Enterprise Mission Platform to ensure mission success across all domains by proactively defending our segment of the Department of Defense Information Network (DODIN).
Secure the Maritime Transportation System (MTS): Strengthen maritime critical infrastructure by advancing cyber risk management, delivering intelligence on adversary cyber actors, and deploying cyber units in direct support of the MTS.
Deploy Cyberspace Capabilities: Deliver advanced cyber tools and integrate cyber operations with core missions to support law enforcement and military efforts with DHS and the Department of Defense.
Vision
Protect the integrity of our cyberspace, maintain a decisive edge over adversaries, and defend
the Nation’s critical maritime infrastructure with strength and resiliency.
U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) Overview
U.S. Cyber Command, which is commonly referred to as cybercom, acts as the Department of Defense (DOD) functional fighter command (CCMD) responsible for cyberspace operations. 10 USC Defined in §161 “As a comprehensive, ongoing mission from many military departments, as a military command,” Cybercom operates as an integrated fighter command. This organization protects the DOD network, supports commanders through cyberspace operations, and protects the nation from cyber threats. In addition to protecting military, intelligence and defense industry networks, the command focuses on stopping a wide range of hostile cyber activities targeting the American important infrastructure..
Mission and Organizational Structure
CYBERCOM’s mission is to “direct, coordinate, and coordinate cyberspace planning and operations – in collaboration with domestic and global partners – to protect and advance the national interest.” The command conducts four primary missions:
Protect U.S. critical infrastructure and democratic institutions from cyber adversaries;
Defend DOD Information Networks (DODIN);
Integrate cyberspace capabilities into combatant command plans;
Improve DOD cyber readiness through collaboration with allied and partner nations.
The command operates from Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, under the command of a four-star general or admiral. Its leader has a dual role, serving simultaneously as commander of CYBERCOM and director of the National Security Agency (DIRNSA). Within NSA, DIRNSA also serves as the chief of the Central Security Service.
Key Strategic Concerns
In his 2025 posture statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Acting CYBERCOM Commander Lt. Gen. William Hartman identified key areas of concern:
China’s continued access to critical U.S. infrastructure networks, prepared for potential disruption in times of crisis.
Russia’s coordinated use of military and intelligence cyber units to advance strategic goals, undermine Ukraine, disrupt Western alliances, and enable state-sponsored cybercrime.
Expanding U.S. cyber advantages through artificial intelligence while preventing adversaries from exploiting American data and systems.
Cyber Warfare and U.S. Cyber Command
The cyber operations domain is highly classified. However, a basic understanding of the domain—its threats, opportunities, and the Department of Defense’s (DOD) capabilities to defend against cyberattacks while enabling military action against adversaries—is critical. To complement this brief overview of U.S. cyber capabilities, two essays from previous editions of the U.S. Military Power Index—“National Defense and the Cyber Domain” and “The Reality of Cyber Conflict: War in the Modern Age”—provide a broader understanding of the cyber landscape and its role in national defense.
Exposure to cyber intrusions can pose serious challenges for the military, disrupting America’s ability to sustain a prolonged conflict and undermining overall national security. However, the demand for robust cybersecurity extends beyond the Department of Defense. Kenneth P.
The Threat and the U.S. Cyber Posture
The urgency could not be more acute. The Trump administration has placed a high priority on strengthening the nation’s cyber defense posture. A recent executive order named China as “the most aggressive and persistent cyber adversary to U.S. government, private sector, and critical infrastructure networks.” This focus has been reinforced by senior defense officials, from congressional testimony to pointing to Xi Jinping’s 2027 goal for a possible Taiwan campaign to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s warning that the threat could be “in the near term.” This growing concern underscores the need to accelerate cyber preparedness—not just by drafting a strategy but also by building actual capabilities. Unlike traditional defense systems that require decades of development and billions of resources, cyber tools create asymmetric advantages that can be delivered in weeks or months with targeted, mission-focused investments. Expanding and diversifying the cyber arsenal will play a central role in preventing and escalating conflict. Achieving this posture requires deliberate reform of Cyber Command’s capability structure.
Advancing Cyber Talent Development
Working with the Department of Defense and the service branches, Cyber Command can establish a comprehensive cyber career path to end the cycle of “perpetual amateurism”—a persistent issue where joint forces struggle to develop, retain, and reinvest in experienced operators. These service members often complete a three-year cyber mission force assignment and then return to their branch without continued professional growth. A forward-looking model would map out staff positions in multiple cyber mission force teams, cyber commands, or service cyber headquarters, roles on planning staffs in other combatant commands, or follow-on assignments to leadership opportunities within cyber commands. Such a model could span a 15- to 20-year career, defining eligibility criteria by cyber job role and military specialty. As part of this framework, Cyber Command could expand its in-house software development capability through targeted training, specialized career paths, and deep integration into operations. By building this workforce internally, the command can accelerate tailored capability development while balancing reliance on external acquisition. Strengthening this foundation would allow Cyber Command to shift from its current operator-heavy focus to a more resilient support infrastructure, which would ensure continued mission effectiveness.
FAQ
U.S. Cyber Command protects Department of Defense networks, supports military operations, and protects the nation from cyber threats. It also works with partners around the world to improve cyber defenses and prevent attacks on critical systems such as the U.S. energy grid, ports, and communications.
The Coast Guard protects shipping lanes, ports, and trade systems that connect the U.S. to the world. Hackers can target these systems to cause major problems, such as cargo delays, safety hazards, or threats to national security. Cyber units defend these systems to keep trade, travel, and security running smoothly.
China and Russia are seen as the biggest cyber rivals. China is building long-term access to U.S. networks, while Russia uses cyberattacks to undermine allies and support its wars. These threats make it urgent for the U.S. to strengthen cyber defenses and stay ahead in areas such as artificial intelligence and data security.
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