U.S. Military Cyber Chief Calls For Cyber Force

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The nation's military cyber chief says it is time for greater investments in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programs to keep up with other countries.

In a speech held at the RSA Security Conference, General Keith Alexander, Commander of U.S. Cyber Command and the director of the National Security Agency (NSA) said that the United States need to create a "cyber force" to be able to withstand attacks targeted at the nation critical infrastructure. Threatpost quoted the General stating:  "We need to concurrently push STEM and educate the public about what goes on these networks so that we can fix it as a team. We need your help to do that."

According to Alexander, a cyber force could be a band between government agencies and the private sector, in which early warning signs could be detected and defend the country against "sophisticated adversaries and malicious insiders." He envisions a team-based collaboration to counter trends in a world where "cyber offensive- and defensive operations are the keys to military victory." 

Alexander called for a greater focus on education at the elementary and secondary level:  "We can't let the advantages we've had in the past erode the future," he said. 

Douglas Perry
30 Comments Comment from the forums
  • It's probably too late to START focusing on this...

    Also, first!
    Reply
  • Lol. What a moronic "cyber-chief". Why don't we stop wasting money on defense and start putting it into education. Military victories do not equate into or require better education.
    Reply
  • RooD
    Maybe if we kept our nose out everyone's business and stopped policing the world we wouldn't have to worry about being attacked.

    my 3.14159265¢
    Reply
  • iamtheking123
    RooDMaybe if we kept our nose out everyone's business and stopped policing the world we wouldn't have to worry about being attacked.my 3.14159265¢That's not how it works, citation: pre 9/11. Regardless I'm sure you're the same type that screams out of Iraq, into Sudan/Myanmar/whatever other shithole.

    Speaking to the article, sounds like he's a little too interested in the "bridge" between private sector and government network command.
    Reply
  • jprahman
    We'd be attacked anyway. I do agree with the idea that we need to be involved less in other's affairs, but the motives of many of those who target our infrastructure and national secrets(industrial, technological, military, financial, and governmental ones), are not always motivated by the actions we take abroad.
    Reply
  • cold fire
    You dun goofed up. Now there's a cyber police force.
    Reply
  • utengineer
    Terminator 3 anyone........
    Reply
  • scook9
    a band between government agencies and the private sector
    LOL......because government agencies have an awesome record of working together......
    Reply
  • LORD_ORION
    ...and quickly after that this would be aimed at controlling US citizens rather than protecting them.

    Here's a better idea, build a better internet protocol... but we couldn't have that now could we? A secure network protocol would mean that we wouldn't be able to spy on our allies/enemies/citizens either.
    Reply
  • tayb
    Every high school graduate in America should have to take and pass Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry. If you can't pass those three courses at some point throughout high school then you don't graduate. If that means little bobby who is just oh so bad at math doesn't get to graduate, rack up $150k in college student loans, and then go off to make $20k a year as a painter then so be it.

    And if you really want to put blame on someone put blame on the PARENTS. The parents say it is okay for their children to be coddled. We are educating American children based on the least common denominator. The stupidest kid in the class decides the curriculum and the pace of the course when it should be the exact opposite.
    Reply