Opening Statements

U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE), Chairman of the Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing on the Cyber Posture of the Department of Defense. 

Chairman Bacon's Statement as Prepared for Delivery:

Good afternoon, and welcome to today’s hearing on the cyber posture of the Department of Defense. 

Today’s hearing comes at a time of increased cyber activity targeting U.S. infrastructure, including recent campaigns against telecommunications and critical infrastructure networks. 

It also comes at a time when cyber operations are being integrated into military operations more than ever before. U.S. Cyber Command has supported recent operations, including Operation Midnight Hammer in Iran and Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela.

The Department, with the support of Congress, has continued to develop its cyber forces. Over the past several years: 

• the Cyber Mission Force has grown and matured; 
• Cyber Command has received enhanced budget control; 
• the role of the Assistant Secretary for Cyber Policy has been established and filled; and 
• the Department has stood up the Department of Defense Cyber Defense Command—DCDC—as a sub-unified command.

This maturation is continuing. Cyber Command has initiated an organizational and force generation reform effort known as “CYBERCOM 2.0”, focused on improving workforce management, training, readiness, and operational effectiveness. This effort is intended to create more defined career paths, enable greater specialization, and improve the Department’s ability to respond to emerging threats.