[Infowarrior] - Alexander nominated to lead Cyber Command

[Richard Forno]

Alexander nominated to lead Cyber Command

President picks intelligence veteran to oversee DOD cyber programs

Defense Systems, 19 Oct 2009

William Welsh

http://defensesystems.com/articles/2009/10/19/alexander-nomination-for-cyber-command.aspx

Army Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander has been nominated for promotion to the  
rank of four-star general and also to the post of commander of the  
Defense Department’s new U.S. Cyber Command, DOD officials said Oct. 16.

The official announcement, which comes from the Office of the  
Secretary of Defense, states that President Barack Obama submitted  
Alexander’s nomination both for the grade of four-star general and to  
serve as commander of the Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Md. Alexander  
also will continue serving as chief of the National Security Agency  
and Central Security Service, according to the announcement.

The nomination comes as no surprise to those following first steps in  
the formation of a unified cyber command within the Defense  
Department. At the time Gates issued instructions for the creation of  
the organization, he indicated a preference for Alexander to lead it.

The new cyber command, which Defense Secretary Robert Gates outlined  
in a June 23 memo, is expected to reach initial operating capabilities  
this month, and become fully operational by October 2010, according to  
media reports. The new command will be responsible for protecting  
military networks and conducting offensive operations against hostile  
forces.

Alexander has extensive experience with intelligence operations. In  
addition to his NSA experience, he also has served as commander of the  
Army Intelligence and Security Command at Fort Belvoir, Va., and  
director of intelligence for the Central Command at MacDill Air Force  
Base, Fla. On the battlefront, he served as G-2 (intelligence officer)  
for the 1st Armored Division in Germany and in Operation Desert Shield/ 
Desert Storm.

He holds multiple master's degrees in the areas of business  
administration, systems technology (electronic warfare), physics and  
national security strategy.