Operational Command and Control of Joint Task Force Cyberspace Operations

Abstract

Command and Control (C2) is one of the most, if not the most, important Operational Function for a Joint Force Commander (JFC). History is replete with examples where inadequate or overly complicated C2 has adversely impacted a military's ability to attain their operational objectives. According to Dr. Milan Vego, to successfully attain their objectives, JFCs are best served by adhering to the time tested tenets of Operational C2. Throughout history, advances in technology and the military's incorporation of them have drastically altered the face of war (e.g. airplane in WWII). Today, the military is in the midst of a technological revolution due to the proliferation of the internet and other network-based communications - often referred to as cyberspace - and its inclusion into nearly every aspect of operations. Cyberspace provides the military an additional and unique method to operationally survey, recon, and strike enemy forces, while providing a means to operationally sustain and protect its own forces. The Joint community has not yet developed doctrine on how to operationally C2 cyberspace operations. Current dialogue and initiatives regarding C2 of cyberspace operations are embedded in the larger discussion concerning the C2 of Information Operations (IO). Many of these previous efforts have analyzed IO as a collective whole rather than analyzing each core capability, or viewed cyberspace solely as a sub-element of the information environment rather than viewing it as a unique domain. This paper focuses solely on analyzing and determining the optimal method in which to operationally C2 cyberspace operations in a Joint Task Force (JTF). Finally, this paper recommends that a Joint Functional Cyberspace Component Commander (JFCCC) be formerly incorporated into Joint Doctrine for the purposes of operationally commanding and controlling cyberspace operations in current and future campaigns and operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 27, 2008
Accession Number
ADA484515

Entities

People

  • Michael C. Elliot

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Cyber
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Computer Networks
  • Cyber Warfare
  • Cyberspace
  • Cyberspace Operations
  • Information Operations
  • Information Systems
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • Task Forces
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States Strategic Command
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control