DOD Cyberspace Operations:About 500 Organizations Have Roles, with Some Potential Overlap

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Governments, groups, and individuals with malicious intent can all pose threats to U.S. cyberspace. DOD's offensive, defensive, and other cyberspace operations support the nation and its allies and partners and protect DOD's own information network.

We examined the Department of Defense's cyberspace operations workforce. It includes about:

440 organizations

61,000 personnel

9,500 contractors

In addition, it has about 70 organizations and 3,400 personnel in supporting roles.

There may be opportunities to consolidate cyberspace operations training and other services. Our recommendations address these issues.

According to data provided by Department of Defense (DOD) components, DOD has established almost 440 organizations that contain about 61,000 military and civilian personnel (and over 9,500 contractors), to conduct cyberspace operations. These organizations are most often aligned with U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) or retained by the military services and conduct a mixture of offensive, defensive, and DOD Information Network operations (see figure). CYBERCOM-aligned organizations include organizations such as Navy cyber strike activities and Army cyber protection battalions that oversee tactical Cyber Mission Force teams. Military service organizations include units such as Air Force communications squadrons and Marine Corps radio battalions. Other organizations include cybersecurity service providers that provide network protection services to non-service components, such as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Department of Defense Organizations Conducting Cyberspace Operations

To enable organizations conducting cyberspace operations, each unit is supported by organizations providing budgetary, personnel, policy, and training support. GAO identified 70 organizations and about 3,400 personnel that provide support to cyberspace operations. These include the Office of the Secretary of Defense, military department, and service headquarters, and other organizations.