As America’s cyberwarriors ascend to the ranks of bomb throwers in the U.S. military, lawmakers want more prestige for the central node of the country’s computer defenses.
The push is for the Fort Meade-based U.S. Cyber Command to get an upgraded title as a “Combatant Command.” That would put it on par with nine other major military commands. Right now, it’s only sub-unified under the U.S. Strategic Command.
Formally, there’s a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act proposing the move.
“Elevating CYBERCOM to a Unified Combatant Command recognizes the fact that cyberspace is the battlefield of the 21st Century,” Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Baltimore) said.
The implications of such a move for the business community aren’t immediately clear, but Ruppersberger said the move could result in more jobs at Fort Meade. Being home to such an elite operation couldn’t hurt in the other battle to turn Maryland into a private-sector cybersecurity hub.
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