Edward Cerne’s Post

A cyber force would have tremendous benefit for the whole country. Getting this idea out for discussion before the Joint Service Academy Cyber Summit is great (intentional?) timing. https://lnkd.in/g4Jk4djs

A very well-put-together study that demonstrates the need for Cyber to have a branch of its own. https://lnkd.in/e7waGK6y

I wonder what would be different with a separate cyber force compared to every IT and Cyber operator knowing that if its the DoD or its allies, its in their lane to protect, secure, and defend. Instead of each service and their talent focusing on what's "in their lane" or "not their job"? Just a thought. Sure would be interesting to see what the DoD and services could do if all of the talent was able to work together and collaborate in addressing every challenge, or share every solution? If every service was able to leverage the same knowledge base, and each able to add to that knowledge base? Sure seems like an interesting thought. https://lnkd.in/gktZXDch

The current model for military services providing forces to U.S. Cyber Command is broken, and the only way to fix it is establishing an independent cyber service, a new report asserts.

It's high time we shift our perspective on cyber capabilities from a novelty, tucked away and pampered by an operations section, to recognizing it as a formidable weapon that demands deployment at the most granular levels of our forces. Cybersecurity measures and the authority to request cyber support—cyber fires—must be decisively delegated down the chain of command, empowering Battalion Commanders in the Fleet and Company Commanders in MARSOC. This radical decentralization ensures our cyber capabilities are as responsive and adaptive as the combat situations they aim to dominate. https://lnkd.in/eq-Qy4iQ

The OODA Loop, developed by U.S. Air Force Colonel John Boyd, is a strategic decision-making concept aimed at gaining an advantage by swiftly observing and analyzing an opponent's actions. This process, integrated into NIST Cybersecurity Frameworks, allows strategists to make informed decisions based on real-time information. By continuously cycling through the stages of observe, orient, decide, and act, individuals can effectively adapt to changing circumstances and outmaneuver their adversaries. Boyd's innovative approach remains a valuable tool in military strategy and cybersecurity frameworks. #OODALoop #CybersecurityFrameworks

I'm impressed with how comprehensive this report is. I agree with everything I've read so far, but the most critical insight in my opinion is this one: "Indeed, interviewees for this project cite numerous examples of senior officers who have little to no experience in the cyber domain — even though the services have had 13 years since the creation of CYBERCOM to develop qualified senior leaders. Of the U.S. military’s more than 45 general and flag officers involved in cyber as of summer 2023, fewer than five had any technical experience in the cyber domain." I was there when Army Cyber Command first took new 2LTs directly into the branch. In fact, I was one of the first 15 ROTC cadets ever pulled into the 17 series back in 2015. The consequence of being first meant that everyone older than me came from somewhere else in the Army, and while some of them were incredibly intelligent and capable technical leaders, many of them weren't. The thinking among senior leaders within Army Cyber was that Army leaders didn't need to know the technical details as long as they understood Army operations well enough. This thinking was, and still is flawed, and as early as 2018, we had officers like Daniel Lim writing articles like "Cyber Officers Must be Technical Experts Too". I know Dan personally, and despite the repercussions he faced by writing that article, he was absolutely correct. I believe that the results of the FDD report vindicate his article. I care deeply about the well-being of our military and our country as a whole. If the government decides to follow through on the creation of a Cyber force, I sincerely hope that they are successful, but I am worried that if they try to grow too big too fast, they will succumb to the same fate of Army Cyber. The ranks of the Cyber Force must not be filled haphazardly with mediocre talent or it will fail. I find the "SOF truths" to be applicable to Cyber as well, especially truths 2 and 3. If the Cyber Force is filled carefully, with quality leaders, then I'm confident that most of the other problems outlined by the FDD report will work themselves out.

What are your thoughts on a Cyber Force? My thoughts are for Cyber Defense and Offensive Cyber they should immediately be in a Cyber Force that allows them to retain and recruit talent. The greyspace in this conversation is whether Service CSSPs/ DoDin operations also be absorbed into the Cyber Force Also the services will need a Cyber capability to defend their weapon systems/planes/ships/tanks etc. from cyber attacks. It’s not an easy answer however, as Cyber is a domain we are at war in already. We need a more focused approach of the Cyberwarfare immediately! #cyber #cyberforce #CyberCommand

As our digital world evolves, it’s crucial to stay informed about online security to protect our work, business, and leisure activities. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, and the West Virginia National Guard is here to provide you with the latest tips and best practices to stay safe online, maintain #OPSEC, and avoid scams. Here are some essential cyber security practices: ▪️Create strong passwords: Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. ▪️Enable multi-factor authentication: Add an extra layer of security to your accounts. ▪️Back up your data: Regularly save copies of your important files. ▪️Update software consistently: Keep your systems and applications up to date to protect against vulnerabilities. ▪️Phishers, or scammers, often use email links to steal data and private information. Stay vigilant and report any suspicious emails to help reduce risk and keep your information safe. Follow the West Virginia National Guard on social media for more information, tips, and resources on staying safe online. For more information on Cyber Security Awareness Month, go to: https://lnkd.in/eU_sZX28 And to learn more about the DoD Cyber Command, go to: https://www.cybercom.mil #CybersecurityAwareness #GuardYourData #StaySecure #WVNG #OneGuard

Truly interesting times ahead as we approach the measure/counter-measure race that is happening with a fervor not seen since the World War 2 armor/anti-armor fight. The need for an organic EW/SIGINT system for dismounts in LSCO is becoming increasingly obvious. Fortunately, rapid fielding initiatives are happening with serviceable systems currently available. However, what's really needed is an army-wide scrub of dismounted TTPs for ES/EA, as our old methodologies of these disciplines may result in a lot of Russian videos of EW/SIGINT teams getting eliminated by drones with the current SOPs for dismounted EW operations. Let's hope there's an iceberg here of mounted/airborne systems in the pipeline that we're not seeing.