Senate Confirms Lt. Gen. Alexander to Head Cyber Command
Keith B. Alexander
The Senate has confirmed Army Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander, director of the National Security Agency, to lead the new U.S. Cyber Command.
“We are pleased that the Senate has moved forward with his confirmation,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. “General Alexander brings to the job the leadership to stand up this command, and the skills and expertise that will be critical to the new command in dealing with security challenges in the cyber domain.”
The new command was created by Department of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in June in response to the growing threats against the department’s computer networks, the corresponding threat to national security, and the need for unity of command to address the problem.
During his mid-April confirmation hearing, Alexander told the Senate his main focus at Cyber Command will be to build capacity and capability to secure the networks and educating the public on the command’s intent.
“This command is not about an effort to militarize cyberspace,” he said. “Rather, it’s about safeguarding our military assets.”
Cyber Command is responsible for “dot-mil” security, Alexander said, and for giving early warning of cyber threats to the nation and providing people and capabilities to support any homeland threat.
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