The Defense Department has begun the process to advance the transition of the U.S. Cyber Command into a unified combatant command in response to President Donald Trump’s order, DoD News reported Friday.
Cybercom’s elevation seeks to “help streamline command and control of time-sensitive cyberspace operations by consolidating them under a single commander with authorities commensurate with the importance of such operations,†Trump said in a statement issued Friday.
“Elevation will also ensure that critical cyberspace operations are adequately funded,†he added.
The president added that DoD Secretary James Mattis has started to evaluate the plan to separate Cybercom from the National Security Agency and will offer his recommendations “at a later date.”
Kenneth Rapuano, assistant defense secretary for homeland defense and global security, told reporters Friday that Cybercom’s elevation is in line with the provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2017 and Mattis’ recommendation and comes as the command works to complete the establishment of its cyber mission force by the end of fiscal 2018.
The White House’s order to elevate Cybercom came a week after the command announced plans to hold its first industry day in October to exercise its congressional authority to purchase cybersecurity technology platforms.
