This month brought significant changes within the United States Cyber Command (USCC), one of the 11 unified combatant commands of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). It was established 15 years ago and is currently headquartered at Fort George G. Meade, MD, where it cooperates with the National Security Agency.
On June 2, the United States Army assumed the Combatant Command Support Agent (CCSA) role for the USCC, and as a result, about 350 Air Force civilian employees at the USCC will now become Army civilians working for the U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER). Since its inception in 2017 as a united of the U.S. Air Force, the USCC has been responsible for the administrative and logistical support of a combatant command. Its civilian workforce is expected to grow to more than 700 Army civilians working for the combatant command.
According to a report from DefenseScoop, the civilian employees will maintain their current positions and even pay grades, while the Army will become responsible for the administration of USCC.
“This was a monumental effort by the U.S. Cyber Command, Army and ARCYBER teams. Our top priority during this entire effort was to ensure we did everything we could to take care of the civilian workforce,” said ARCYBER Deputy to the Commanding General Jeffrey R. Jones.
More Than Cyber Warriors
ARCYBER has led the efforts to transition U.S. Air Force civilians to become U.S. Army civilians, but for most, there will be little to no changes other than the branch of the military that employs them.
“Think of the transfer like this: It’s like your phone service switched from Verizon to AT&T, but your number stayed the same,” added Jones. “At the end of the day, you still work for U.S. CYBERCOM, only now you’re affiliated with the best Army in the world.”
ARCYBER was established in October 2010, it was intended to integrate and conduct cyberspace operations, electromagnetic warfare, and information operations, ensuring decision dominance and freedom of action for friendly forces in and through the cyber domain and the information dimension, while denying the same to our adversaries.
The civilian workforce at CCSA will continue to play a crucial role in supporting the USCC including ARCYBER. Its personnel provide human resources support to Army civilians with the Civilian Human Resources Agency (CHRA); polygraph support from U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command; Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention, Equal Employment Opportunity, and Safety support from the Fort Meade Army garrison, antenna support from the Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, and Government Purchase Card support from Army Contracting Command.
“Change is constant. Change is good. Without it, we’re stagnant,” said Jones. “This change brings a highly talented workforce into the Army footprint.”
Cyber & Information Advantage Event
It remains a busy time for ARCYBER, as it is now preparing for next month’s Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA’s) Hot Topics: Cyber & Information Advantage event. Scheduled for July 2, and to be held in Arlington, VA, it will see senior leaders and professionals from the command, the Army Combined Arms Center (USACAC), and ASUS, along with other military, government, industry, academia, and key experts gather to address cyber and information-related topics.
The event will consist of several panels, with keynote remarks offering top-level discussions on how information affects the military and global affairs, as well as how the U.S. Army and the DoD – along with their partners – are leading efforts to maintain “information advantage” in multi-domain operations.
Currently, planned panels include Signature Management Enabling Survivability: Cold War to Ukraine; Social Media’s Role in Influencing Global Affairs; Maturing a Data-Centric Army; and Transforming Information Forces in Contact.
Remarks will also be provided by ARCYBER commander Lt. Gen. Maria Barrett, USACAC commander Lt. Gen. Milford Beagle Jr., and Hon. James P. Rubin, Special Envoy and Coordinator, Global Engagement Center, U.S. Department of State.
