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Seeking Elevated Status

May 3, 2012

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey is reportedly poised to recommend to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta that US Cyber Command’s status be elevated to a full-fledged combatant command, reported ABC News Wednesday. “We regularly review the command structure,” Pentagon spokesman George Little told the news service. He added, “Nothing has been decided.” CYBERCOM began operations in May 2010 as a component of US Strategic Command. It is responsible for overseeing the activities to operate and defend US military information networks and, if directed, for conducting military cyber operations against adversaries. Supporters for making CYBERCOM a combatant command say its current status limits its resources and may slow its ability to respond to cyber attacks, according to ABC News’ May 2 report. President Obama would have to approve the change. (See also Cyber Rules of Engagement.)

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