Cyber National Mission Force

Cyber National Mission Force
Unit name	Cyber National Mission Force
Dates	2014 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Cyber Command
Type	Joint Task Force
Role	Cyber Operations
Garrison	Fort Meade
Garrison label	Headquarters

Cyber National Mission Force. It is a joint task force component of United States Cyber Command responsible for defending the United States and its interests from significant cyber threats. Established in 2014, the force is composed of teams from the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, and United States Space Force. Its primary focus is on conducting full-spectrum cyberspace operations to deter, disrupt, and defeat adversary cyber and malign influence actors.

History

The creation of the force was directed by the Secretary of Defense following the stand-up of United States Cyber Command at Fort Meade. Its formation was a response to growing threats from state actors like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, as well as non-state groups. Key legislative and policy developments, including the National Defense Authorization Act, have shaped its evolution and authorities. The force achieved full operational capability in 2018, marking a significant milestone in the maturation of the nation's cyber forces, a process influenced by earlier entities like the Joint Functional Component Command for Network Warfare.

Organization

The force is organized under a headquarters element at Fort Meade and is led by a commander who reports directly to the commander of United States Cyber Command. Its operational core consists of Cyber Mission Forces teams, specifically the Cyber Protection Teams and Combat Mission Teams, which are aligned against specific threat actors. These teams are sourced from the service branches, including the Army Cyber Command, Fleet Cyber Command, Air Forces Cyber, and Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command. The structure is designed to enable persistent engagement and defend forward operations in coordination with the National Security Agency.

Mission and responsibilities

Its core mission is to defend the United States by conducting cyberspace operations against specific adversary networks. This involves executing defensive and offensive cyber operations to protect Department of Defense networks and, by extension, the nation's critical infrastructure. Responsibilities include identifying foreign cyber threats, neutralizing malicious activity, and supporting the broader objectives of the National Defense Strategy. The force operates under authorities granted by the President of the United States and in accordance with Title 10 of the United States Code.

Operations

The force conducts operations globally under the defend forward strategy articulated by United States Cyber Command. Publicly disclosed operations include actions against the Internet Research Agency during the 2016 United States elections and disruptive campaigns against Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps networks. It has also been involved in countering ransomware groups and supporting partners like Ukraine against Russian Armed Forces cyber aggression. These operations are often conducted in close partnership with the National Security Agency and agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security.

Relationship with other entities

It maintains a critical partnership with the National Security Agency under the dual-hat leadership structure, sharing resources and intelligence at Fort Meade. The force coordinates extensively with other Combatant Commands, such as United States Indo-Pacific Command and United States European Command, for regional cyber efforts. Domestically, it works with the Department of Justice, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Internationally, it collaborates with allied cyber commands like the United Kingdom's National Cyber Force and NATO's Allied Command Transformation.

Personnel and training

Personnel are primarily drawn from the cyber components of the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, and United States Space Force. Training is rigorous and conducted at service-specific schools like the Army Cyber School at Fort Eisenhower and the Air Force's 39th Information Operations Squadron. The National Cryptologic University and the Cyber Center of Excellence also provide advanced instruction. Members often hold certifications and clearances for Sensitive Compartmented Information and operate under the legal guidance of the Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Defense.

Category:United States Cyber Command Category:Cyberwarfare agencies of the United States Category:Military units and formations established in 2014