The Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance (OPNAV N2/N6) Vice Adm. Ted N. Branch
issued NAVADMIN 215/15 on Sept. 11, announcing the completion of Task Force Cyber Awakening (TFCA) and the establishment of the Navy Cybersecurity Division within OPNAV N2/N6.
TFCA was established by an implementation memo on July 25, 2014 to evaluate Navy cybersecurity governance, deliver fundamental change to Navy’s organization, resourcing, acquisition, and readiness, and align and strengthen authority, accountability, and rigor in Navy Cybersecurity.
Navy Cybersecurity will operate under a draft Navy Cybersecurity Instruction, distributed via separate correspondence, until staffing of the final instruction is complete, according to the NAVADMIN.
The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) directed establishment of TFCA in response to compromises within Navy networks, low fleet cybersecurity inspection scores, and identification of warfighting platform cyber vulnerabilities. The implementation memo tasked TFCA to evaluate Navy cybersecurity governance to include a broad scope of systems and processes in order to provide reasonable assurance of survivability of critical platform components necessary for mission success such as Navy networks and control systems.
At the Aug. 25, 2015 meeting of the CNO Executive Group (CEG), the CNO approved the transition of Navy’s TFCA to the newly established enduring cybersecurity organization under OPNAV N2/N6, with all necessary authorities afforded the original task force delegated from CNO and Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition). This signaled the completion of TFCA’s one-year effort.
Navy Cybersecurity 100-Day Transition Plan
Navy Cybersecurity is executing a 100-Day Transition Plan that includes the development of charters for associated senior level governing bodies, submission of documents to support short-and long-range cybersecurity requirements definition and funding, drafting of cybersecurity components of Navy cyber strategy and policy documents, and development of a Navy-wide branding campaign to drive cultural change.
Oversight
The NAVADMIN also noted that a Navy Cybersecurity Executive Committee will provide oversight and conduct progress reviews of Navy Cybersecurity.
The Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance (OPNAV N2/N6) manages requirements, policy and resources for the Navy's Information Dominance Community, which includes Communications, Networks, ISR, Oceanography, Space, Cyber, Electronic Warfare and Command and Control capabilities. N2/N6 is the Navy's primary office for resourcing such capabilities as intelligence, cyber warfare, command and control, electronic warfare and battle management.