TIMELINE OF ARMY CYBER COMMAND
The History of Army Cyber Command
Learn about the establishment of U.S. Army Cyber Command and the Army’s focus on providing a force of elite cyber warriors to combat adversaries.
EARLY 2000: INCREASING NEED FOR NETWORK SECURITY
In the 1980s and 1990s, major U.S. Army commands managed their own network security systems, which led to compatibility and vulnerability issues as computer technology became increasingly accessible and reliant on an internet-based infrastructure.
To address this issue, in 2002, the Army established the Network Technology Command (NETCOM), as the single authority to manage and defend enterprise-level data networks.
The establishment of NETCOM was due in large part to the complexity and growth of cyber threats to the Army’s portion of the internet, known as LandWarNet.
2004: THEATER OPERATIONS CENTER
In 2004, collaboration between computer network defenders and providers to secure Army data systems was becoming increasingly critical.
This led to the merging of the NETCOM operations security center with Intelligence and Security Command’s (INSCOM) computer emergency response team.
The newly integrated team was headquartered in the Theater Operations Center in Fort Belvoir, Va.
2006: COMMAND INTEGRATION
By September 2006, the Army recognized that computer network operations were rapidly evolving into the realm of cyberspace and directed the 1st Information Operations Command to integrate and coordinate Army computer operations.
NETCOM and INSCOM commanding generals were later assigned to oversee this mission.
2009: ESTABLISHMENT OF ARMY CYBER
In June 2009, the U.S. Secretary of Defense directed each of the military service branches to coordinate in an effort to form a joint cyber operations force.
The next year, Army Chief of Staff George W. Casey approved the establishment of U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) to support this new joint force.
The Army centered the new command in Fort Belvoir, Va., with part of its staff close to the headquarters of the National Security Agency (NSA) in Fort Meade, Md.
2012: CYBER MISSION FORCES
In 2012, the U.S. Department of Defense directed Army Cyber to ready individual teams with the capability to combat and execute cyber operations. These teams were dubbed the Cyber Mission Force. Army Cyber was directed to standup 41 of the 133 total teams.
The next year, Army Cyber was directed to establish a new joint-force headquarters to provide mission command capabilities in support of the three other DoD cyber combatant commands.
The new headquarters was established in Fort Gordon Ga., in October 2014.
2013: CYBER SCHOOL
While the Army had completed its task of establishing a reliable command to defend the Army’s sensitive data networks from cyber threats and intrusion, it still lacked a branch that could provide a workforce of skilled, agile cyberspace warriors trained to Department of Defense standards.
In June 2013, Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno approved the establishment of U.S. Army Cyber School in Fort Gordon. The new school’s mission was to unify and integrate training for new Cyber career fields.
The new school officially opened its doors on Aug. 4, 2014, with Colonel Jennifer G. Buckner appointed the first Chief of Cyber and commandant. One of the first priorities of the Cyber branch was to create career fields for future Cyber officers and enlisted personnel: Cyber Operations Officer (17A), Cyber Operations Technician (170A, warrant officer) and Cyber Operations Specialist (17C).
These specialties were officially established on Oct. 1, 2015.
2014-2017: CYBER AND THE SECOND ARMY
When Army Cyber Command was established, it received the honors and lineage of the inactive Second Army, which traces its roots to World War I.
In 2014, The Army revised the command and control relationship between the Second Army and Cyber Command, effectively breaking any direct ties the two units had.
Those ties were reestablished in 2017, in light of Army Cyber becoming an Army Service Component Command in 2016.
2018: INTEGRATION OF ELECTRONIC WARFARE CAREERS
On Oct. 1, 2018, the Army’s Electronic Warfare careers became part of the cyber branch. Integrating the career fields combines the assets of both for improved operational capabilities at all echelons of the Army.
TODAY: LOOKING TO THE FUTURE OF INFORMATION WARFARE
Today, ARCYBER is at the forefront of network technology, ensuring the security of the cyberspace domain so that U.S. forces can operate quickly, efficiently and safely.
As computer infrastructures grow increasingly advanced and accessible, ARCYBER will be an ever-present force to ensure the safety of U.S. Army Soldiers and the American people.
Learn about the training you’ll receive as a Soldier in Army Cyber Command.
Are you interested in joining the Army as an officer? Learn about the Army Cyber Command Direct Commissioning Program.
Interested in the role you’ll be playing as a Cyber Soldier? Learn about the current Cyber Command career military occupational specialties (MOS).
