Crossroads Blog | Institute National Security and Counterterrorism

Current Affairs, cyber attack, warfare

Cyber Task Force Passes Mission to Cyber Command

Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden (USA) of the American Forces Press Service, in an article published September 7, 2010, reports that the Joint Task Force Global Network Operations Command ("JTF-GNO") has "cased its colors."  

The JTF-GNO's final mission was "to direct the operation and defense of the global information grid throughout the full spectrum of war fighting, intelligence and business missions within the department." Charged with securing the Department of Defense's computer networks since 1998, the JTF-GNO, most recently commanded by Lt. Gen. Carroll F. Pollett (USA), has, according to the article, "led the way for dramatic changes in the Department of Defense as the mission, requirements and threats evolved." According to the article, the JTF-GNO was reorganized in 2003 to fall under Strategic Command, where its mission included both offensive and defensive cyber operations.  

During his final remarks, Gen. Pollett said "Cyberspace has proven equal and just as important as air, sea, land and space as a domain . . . It's clear that it must be defended and operationalized."  According to Gen. Kevin P. Chilton (USAF), commander of Strategic Command, the JTF-GNO's mission "will continue on at U.S. Cyber Command and will be as essential tomorrow as it is today to the United States of America."  

The full article can be found at the link above, or here.  

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