US Cyber Command wrapped up its premier exercise at Nellis AFB, Nev., last week. Cyber Flag 15-1 is a force-on-force training exercise focused on both attack and defense capabilities across full spectrum of military operations, according to a Nov. 12 release. “Cyber is a team effort, and given the resource constraints and capacity shortfalls, we need to partner in a way that optimizes operational outcomes,” said Adm. Michael Rogers, CYBERCOM boss and National Security Agency director. The exercise focused on executing “joint and coalition cyberspace operations that are fully integrated with other combatant command air, land, and sea operations;” identifying and prioritizing cyber terrain against threats; operating in a contested and denied environment; and rehearsing “how a coalition will conduct command and control of cyberspace forces at the tactical and operational levels in response to a regional crisis,” states the release.
Maj. Gen. Gregory Gagnon, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence highlights the importance of cyber and electromagnetic spectrum superiority in modern warfare at an CSIS event on March. 20. The spectrum is crucial to conducting long-range attacks and securing the narrative and information flow.