• Latest
  • Trending
Army taps reservists with cyber skills to fight IS militants

Army taps reservists with cyber skills to fight IS militants

June 10, 2017
Myanmar’s military takes power detains Suu Kyi

Myanmar’s military takes power detains Suu Kyi

February 2, 2021
Climbing coronavirus cases in Colorado’s high country aren’t tracking back to ski resorts

Climbing coronavirus cases in Colorado’s high country aren’t tracking back to ski resorts

February 2, 2021
Russian’s hottest models in 2021

Russian’s hottest models in 2021

February 2, 2021
Afghanistan an Imperfect Solution

Afghanistan an Imperfect Solution

February 2, 2021
Russia Signs Extension Of Nuclear Arms Treaty

Russia Signs Extension Of Nuclear Arms Treaty

February 2, 2021
Even Democrats agree with much of Trump’s foreign policy legacy

Even Democrats agree with much of Trump’s foreign policy legacy

January 27, 2021
Tech Censorship Is the Real Gift to Putin

Tech Censorship Is the Real Gift to Putin

January 27, 2021
National Guard Troops Stationed at US Capitol Have Been Cleared to Use Lethal Force

National Guard Troops Stationed at US Capitol Have Been Cleared to Use Lethal Force

February 2, 2021
U.S. Antifa continues to topple the empire

U.S. Antifa continues to topple the empire

January 16, 2021
America and the New Monopoly of Censors

America and the New Monopoly of Censors

January 11, 2021
U.S. Intelligence Agencies Conclude Russia Was Behind Massive SolarWinds Hack

U.S. Intelligence Agencies Conclude Russia Was Behind Massive SolarWinds Hack

January 6, 2021
EarthFirst! sabotaged gas pipeline threatens safety of 3,000 Aspen residents

EarthFirst! sabotaged gas pipeline threatens safety of 3,000 Aspen residents

January 11, 2021
Monday, April 19, 2021
The Denver Herald
No Result
View All Result
  • Regional News
    • Colorado
      • Denver News
    • Kansas
    • Nevada
    • Utah
  • US News
  • World
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • China
    • Canada
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
  • National Security
    • Immigration
    • Military
    • Politics
    • Terrorism
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Science
  • Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Cycling
    • Golf
    • MLB
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Kansas City Royals
    • NBA
      • Denver Nuggets
      • Utah Jazz
    • NFL
      • Denver Broncos
      • Kansas City Chiefs
    • NHL
      • Colorado Avalanche
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Water Sports
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books & Literature
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • History
    • Movies & TV
    • Music
    • Privacy
    • Religion
    • Technology
    • Travel
    • Women & Children
  • Environment
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife
  • Regional News
    • Colorado
      • Denver News
    • Kansas
    • Nevada
    • Utah
  • US News
  • World
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • China
    • Canada
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
  • National Security
    • Immigration
    • Military
    • Politics
    • Terrorism
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Science
  • Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Cycling
    • Golf
    • MLB
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Kansas City Royals
    • NBA
      • Denver Nuggets
      • Utah Jazz
    • NFL
      • Denver Broncos
      • Kansas City Chiefs
    • NHL
      • Colorado Avalanche
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Water Sports
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books & Literature
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • History
    • Movies & TV
    • Music
    • Privacy
    • Religion
    • Technology
    • Travel
    • Women & Children
  • Environment
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife
No Result
View All Result
The Denver Herald
No Result
View All Result

Army taps reservists with cyber skills to fight IS militants

June 10, 2017
in Denver News, Military, National Security, Terrorism, US News, World
0
Home Denver News
Post Views: 973

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A decade ago, he was a young Army soldier training Iraqi troops when he noticed their primitive filing system: handwritten notes threaded with different colors of yarn, stacked in piles. For organization’s sake, he built them a simple computer database.

Now an Army reservist, the major is taking a break from his civilian high-tech job to help America’s technological fight against Islamic State extremists, part of a growing force of cyberexperts the Pentagon has assembled to defeat the group.

“The ability to participate in some way in a real mission, that is actually something that’s rare, that you can’t find in private sector,” said the 38-year-old Nebraska native who is working at U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Maryland. “You’re part of a larger team putting your skills to use, not just optimizing clicks for a digital ad, but optimizing the ability to counter ISIS or contribute to the security of our nation.”

RelatedPosts

The demise of American soft power

U.S.-backed forces in Syria gain ground in ‘final battle’ with Islamic State amid reports Canadian women, children surrendered

The US says it’s close to defeating ‘Islamic State’ – is the military ready to face its civilian casualty demons?

Ex-navy Seal and sailor among US victims killed in Syria suicide attack

US airstrikes fail to weaken al-Shabaab’s grip on Somalia

Last year, then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter expressed frustration that the United States was losing the cyberwar against Islamic States militants. He pushed the Cyber Command to be more aggressive. In response, the Pentagon launched an effort to incorporate cyber technology into its daily military fight, including new ways to disrupt the enemy’s communications, recruiting, fundraising and propaganda.

To speak with someone at the front lines of the cyber campaign, The Associated Press agreed to withhold the major’s name. The military says he could be threatened or targeted by the militants if he is identified publicly. The major and other officials wouldn’t provide precise details on the highly classified work he is doing.

But Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander of U.S. Army Cyber Command, said the major is bringing new expertise for identifying enemy networks, pinpointing system administrators or developers, and potentially monitoring how the Islamic State’s online traffic moves.

He “has the ability to bring an analytic focus of what the threat is doing, coupled with a really deep understanding of how networks run,” Nakasone said, describing such contributions as “really helpful for us.” He outlined a key question for the military: “How do you impact an adversary that’s using cyberspace against us?”

The military services are looking for new ways to bring in more civilians with high-tech skills who can help against IS, and prepare for the new range of technological threats the nation will face. Nakasone said that means getting Guard and Reserve members with technical expertise in digital forensics, math crypto-analysis and writing computer code. The challenge is how to find them.

“I would like to say it’s this great database that we have, that we’ve been able to plug in and say, ‘Show me the best tool developers and analysts that you have out there,'” Nakasone said. “We don’t have that yet. We are going to have one, though, by June.”

The Army Reserve is starting a pilot program cataloging soldiers’ talents. Among 190,000 Army reservists, Nakasone said there might be up to 15,000 with some type of cyber-related skills. But there are legal and privacy hurdles, and any database hinges on reservists voluntarily and accurately providing information on their capabilities.

Normally, Nakasone said a reservist’s record includes background, training, assignments and schools attended.

“I would like to know every single person that has been trained as a certified ethical hacker,” he said.

The Army has been steadily building cyber mission teams, as part of a broader Defense Department undertaking. Of the 41 Army teams, just over half come from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve.

Nakasone said officials were still working out costs.

“The money will come,” he said, because building a ready cyber force is necessary.

The Army major said others in the civilian high-tech industry are interested in helping.

Many would like to participate “in something bigger than themselves, something that has intrinsic value for the nation,” he said.

The major said he has signed up for a second one-year tour in his cyber job. He is looking at options for staying longer.

“I find what I’m doing very satisfying, because I have an opportunity to implement things, to get things done and see them work and see tangible results,” he said. “I’m not making as much as I was on the civilian side. But the satisfaction is that strong, and is that valuable, that it’s worth it.”

Source: AP by Lolita C. Baldor

Tags: Cyber CommandDefense Secretary Ash CarterIslamic StateLt. Gen. Paul NakasoneNSAU.S. Cyber Command
ShareTweetShare

Related Posts

Myanmar’s military takes power detains Suu Kyi
Asia

Myanmar’s military takes power detains Suu Kyi

February 2, 2021
Climbing coronavirus cases in Colorado’s high country aren’t tracking back to ski resorts
Business

Climbing coronavirus cases in Colorado’s high country aren’t tracking back to ski resorts

February 2, 2021
Russian’s hottest models in 2021
Art

Russian’s hottest models in 2021

February 2, 2021
Afghanistan an Imperfect Solution
Afghanistan

Afghanistan an Imperfect Solution

February 2, 2021
Russia Signs Extension Of Nuclear Arms Treaty
Colorado

Russia Signs Extension Of Nuclear Arms Treaty

February 2, 2021
Next Post
Afghan official: Massive US bomb death toll rises to 94

Afghan official: Massive US bomb death toll rises to 94

Translate

Popular Post

Myanmar’s military takes power detains Suu Kyi
Asia

Myanmar’s military takes power detains Suu Kyi

February 2, 2021
0

  Naypyitaw, Myanmar (2/2-57.15).     The Associate Press reports that Myanmar’s military staged a coup Monday and detained senior politicians...

Read more
EU’s Dijsselbloem expects deal on Greek bailout next week: spokesman

EU’s Dijsselbloem expects deal on Greek bailout next week: spokesman

June 10, 2017
Northern Irish unionists to open talks with UK’s May about support

Northern Irish unionists to open talks with UK’s May about support

June 20, 2017
China seeks Russia’s help to ‘cool’ North Korea situation

China seeks Russia’s help to ‘cool’ North Korea situation

April 15, 2017
Army taps reservists with cyber skills to fight IS militants

Army taps reservists with cyber skills to fight IS militants

June 10, 2017
  • About Us
  • Creative Commons
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us

Topics

Follow Us

About Us

Thedenverherald.com is part of The Denver Herald Media Group LLC, which delivers daily news around the globe.

© 2011 The Denver Herald

No Result
View All Result
  • Regional News
    • Colorado
      • Denver News
    • Kansas
    • Nevada
    • Utah
  • US News
  • World
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • China
    • Canada
    • Europe
    • Latin America
    • Middle East
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
  • National Security
    • Immigration
    • Military
    • Politics
    • Terrorism
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Science
  • Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Cycling
    • Golf
    • MLB
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Kansas City Royals
    • NBA
      • Denver Nuggets
      • Utah Jazz
    • NFL
      • Denver Broncos
      • Kansas City Chiefs
    • NHL
      • Colorado Avalanche
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Water Sports
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Books & Literature
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • History
    • Movies & TV
    • Music
    • Privacy
    • Religion
    • Technology
    • Travel
    • Women & Children
  • Environment
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife

© 2011 The Denver Herald