National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020

This year’s NDAA charts a consensus national defense policy that continues the restoration of military readiness, implements a National Defense Strategy to confront Russia, China, and other threats around the world, reforms and modernizes Pentagon business systems and bureaucracy, and – most importantly – cares for our troops and their families.  

Here are the Cyber Provisions:

The NDAA strengthens congressional oversight of cyber operations, and enhances the Department of Defense’s cybersecurity strategy and cyber warfare capabilities. The Conference Report:

Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a consistent, comprehensive framework to enhance the cybersecurity of the U.S. defense industrial base;

Requires development of metrics for the assessment of the readiness of the Cyber Mission Forces;

Establishes a consortium of universities to advise the Secretary of Defense on cybersecurity matters;

Establishes Principal Cyber Advisors on military cyber force matters for each military service;

Allows the secretaries of the military departments to use up to $3 million in Operation and Maintenance funds to develop cyber operations-peculiar capabilities for the rapid creation, testing, fielding, and operation of cyber capabilities;

Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify the congressional defense committees and describe various operational details of any delegation of authorities from the National Command Authority for military cyberspace operations;

Directs an annual report on military cyberspace operations;

Directs a zero-based review of Department of Defense cyber and information technology personnel;

Mandates a study on improving cyber career paths in the Navy;

Refines the role of the Chief Information Officer in improving enterprise-wide cybersecurity;

Commissions a Defense Science Board study on future cyber warfighting capabilities of Department of Defense;

Directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a review of the cyber posture of the United States on a quadrennial basis; and

Extends the completion date of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission.

Join Huntsville SOF Network at The Straight To Ale Speakeasy to learn about their 2020 events, see their new web experience and more.

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Admiral Michael Rogers (Ret.) Former Commander of U.S. Cyber Command Former Director of the National Security Agency Please join us for a conversation with Auburn University alumnus Admiral Michael Rogers. In a moderated discussion with McCrary Institute Director Frank Cilluffo, the Admiral will reflect upon his experiences on campus, in government, and in the private sector, after a long career devoted to public service. The conversation will span a range of cybersecurity-related issues including major threat actors, cyber defense, deterrence, other U.S. response measures, and the best path forward for the United States and its allies. Register Live Stream Link Friday, November 1, 2019 2:00 - 3:00 pm CT Brown-Kopel Grand Hall at Auburn University 152 Wilmore Drive, Auburn, AL 36849

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The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (OUSD) for Acquisition & Sustainment announced a new industry day targeting Huntsville’s Aerospace and Defense contracting community.  OUSD will present information on its latest mission to create a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, known as CMMC.

https://www.waff.com/2019/08/02/huntsville-chosen-backdrop-new-dod-cybersecurity-maturity-model-certification/

On July 1, the U.S. Senate passed the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act to defend the U.S. energy grid by partnering with industry to utilize engineering concepts to remove vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to access the grid through holes in digital software system.

https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-king-bill-protecting-energy-grid-from-cyber-attacks

The ball is rolling to get the state's first cyber technology magnet school ready for classes by next August.

Local technology companies handed over some big donations Thursday to the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering. At the National Cyber Summit they rallied in support of the school and what it means to have it in Huntsville, but there are still a lot of major pieces up in the air, like where the school will be and who will run it.

A location is chosen for the ASCTE, according to Senator Arthur Orr, but he's not saying where it is yet. He tells WZDX News a temporary site has a small hurdle before they can announce it, but they envision being there for the first three years while construction goes on at the permanent school site. 

Moves are being made to fund the school by companies hoping to hire its graduates.

"We know the challenge of recruiting staff and it's just gonna get more difficult as not just DoD and NASA, but the energy industry, banking, medical, all have to protect their data," said Joe Green, president of Davidson Technologies. Davidson Technologies donated $250,000 and Torch Technologies donated $100,000 to the school Thursday. 

The more than 300-student magnet school will make Huntsville the center for all things cyber security.

"There's no other school or replicate anywhere like it in the country so we're the pioneers but we've got to do it right and we've got to do it with the highest quality that we can have," said State Senator Arthur Orr, (R) District 3.

Cyber Huntsville reports there are more than 2,000 unfilled cyber and engineering jobs in Alabama. They're jobs UAH students say would be a lot easier to succeed in as a graduate from a cyber magnet school.

"If I would have learned something like this in, let's say ninth grade, my level of skill would be an order of magnitude different," said Franco Camarillo, president of the UAH Cybersecurity Club.

The school is expected to attract more people to the area. Local students are glad it's creating opportunities for the people already here.

"It makes the most sense getting the people that are growing up here and then kind of developing their talent to kind of feed Huntsville and make Huntsville grow into a leading place for the cybersecurity industry," Camarillo said.

Read more from Rocket City Now

Huntsville's Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering got a big boost at the National Cyber Summit. Torch Technologies and Davidson Technologies Inc. presented checks to the school being built right now. Davidson donated $250,000.

Torch donated $100,000. Decatur senator Arthur Orr is on the school's board of trustees. He said he isn't sure yet how the money will be used, but the donations are a reflection of the school's support.

"If we get the school that we envision that is truly world-class, I can envision families moving to north Alabama to have their children matriculate at this world class institution. There's nothing else like it anywhere in the county," said senator, Arthur Orr.

Senator Orr said they're looking to hire a principal and more donations will be announced in the coming weeks. The cyber tech school is supposed to open next year.

Read more from WAAY 31

In the same week millions of Americans were warned twice about new risks to their online data, nearly 2,000 cyber security experts met in Alabama to talk about computer security.

There were a lot of messages and a lot of data shared, but two thoughts stood out. “To some degree, everybody’s at risk” and “nobody cares.”

Read more at AL.com

The White House, in a $2.6 billion increase from last year is requesting over $9.6 billion for the Department of Defense cyber activities in fiscal 2020.

The request will fund support DoD’s three primary missions:

• Network Information Systems
• Military Commander Objectives
• Defending the Nation

This will provide necessary funds to support the U.S. military cyber forces (including the recently elevated US Cyber Command.)

Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander of Cyber Command, provided to the Senate Armed Services Committee written testimony in February that said this fiscal year the command was executing a budget totaling roughly $610 million.

Read the full story Fifth Domain