DOD might create cyber combatant commander

The Defense Department is on the verge of adding a new combatant commander (COCOM) for cyber warfare, reports DOD Buzz.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been considering the idea of a cyber COCOM for months and several senior cyberwarfare officials said the secretary is likely to move on this soon after the White House finishes a 60-day study underway on major policy, strategic, organizational and operational issues facing the country when it comes to cyber war and cyber security.

Cyber warfare currently is the responsibility of the Strategic Command, which hands off most of the day-to-day duties to the National Security Agency. And StratCom, which has the command lead, lacks funding for the mission.