The US Cyber Command has been granted new fiscal and hiring authorities as of October 1, as a result of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. This move sees the 13-year-old entity gain the ability to manage its own budgeting, training, and acquisition processes, shifting from traditional norms in the Defense Department. CYBERCOM’s executive director, Holly Baroody, highlighted the significance of these new powers, noting they will greatly enhance the command’s operational efficiency.
Key Points:
- The 2022 National Defense Authorization Act granted the US Cyber Command new fiscal and hiring authorities.
- Historically, armed services like the Army, Navy, and Air Force have been responsible for recruitment and equipment acquisition, while combatant commands (COCOMs) command units in the field. Now, Cyber Command joins organizations like Special Operations Command with the authority to do both.
- CYBERCOM will now have the resources to manage its own training programs and run acquisition initiatives similar to the Special Operations Command’s swift tech-focused programs.
- These new authorities will help consolidate the Cyber Command budget, which was previously dispersed among various elements.
- CYBERCOM has also received unique hiring permissions, allowing them to fill over 400 open vacancies, including competitive positions like data scientists, at better rates.
