Cyber reservists critical to new CG Cyber Strategy implementation Story by Capt. William Kintz, CG CYBERCOM On August 3, 2021, Rear Adm. Michael Ryan, the commander of Coast Guard Cyber (CGCYBER), unveiled the 2021 Cyber Strategic Outlook during remarks made at the 2021 Air, Sea, and Space Conference. This was the first update to the Coast Guard's Cyber Strategy since the original publication in 2015. In the document, the Commandant unequivocally acknowledged that "the events of the last five years, including the exploitation of U.S. Coast Guard networks and information, attacks on maritime critical infrastructure, and adversarial efforts to undermine our democratic processes, reinforce that cyberspace is a contested domain." He pointed to the undeniable dependency upon cyber capabilities for the service's ability to execute any of its statutory missions. The CSO sets high expectations for the service to protect both internal networks and the Marine Transportation System from an ever-growing and evolving set of cyber threats by an equally dynamic cohort of adversaries. The service is acting on those realizations with significant billet increases at CGCYBER, as well as the maturation of a Cyber Security degree program at the Academy (its first graduates will join the fleet in summer 2022) and the exploration into the possible establishment of a cyber- specific enlisted rating and warrant officer specialty. The Office of Cyber Space Forces (CG-791) and CGCYBER are aligning efforts to deliver on the Commandant's promise. However, the world of cyber operations is one of rapid and constant flux. Building the necessary experience and expertise is both expensive and time-consuming; not unlike becoming a doctor. There are also a myriad of distinct specializations needed, again, similar to the medical profession, which take even longer to develop. Here's where the Cyber Reserve Program shines. Cyber Reserve members from across the country arrive at the command with active civilian careers working across all specialties of the cyber spectrum ranging from end user support to emulating cyber threat actors. This enables reservists to provide an essential depth of expertise that aids with both mission execution and the development of a robust full-time cyber workforce. The program also provides an equally critical means of retaining the talent of those who depart active duty by creating a structure through which they can both continue their service to the nation and perform the cyber work they love part-time in the Reserve. Approximately a third of all new members joining the Cyber Reserve Division are former active duty. There's no better example of this surge capability in action than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reservists nationwide answered the mobilization call to execute the service-wide deployments of CVR Teams and Purebred (providing government mobile device email access capability), as well as the migration of thousands of email accounts to the DoD365 cloud. Cyber reservists filled personnel and skill voids created by pandemic- driven issues, keeping critical web applications protected and available when the service needed them the most. Much of this support was performed remotely and kept the Coast Guard workforce safely executing missions, despite various levels of lockdowns and travel restrictions. Senior leadership has taken notice of the immense value our Cyber reservists bring to the mission, and they are backing that up with billets, training and certification support, and drill location flexibility. Through CGCYBER’s unique Remote Participation Program, its reservists can complete weekend drills at Coast Guard facilities near their homes. We continue to grow this highly technical and geographically dispersed surge capability to implement the CSO! Read the strategy in full here: http://www.uscg.mil/cyber � Thinking of joining the team or know someone who would be a great fit? Whether you have IT experience and want to bring that to CGCYBER in uniform, or you have friends or family (civilian, active duty, DOD, Guard or Reserve,) with cyber experience who are looking to join the Coast Guard Reserve, contact me, Capt. William Kintz, the CGCYBER Senior Reserve Officer. Current active and Reserve members can find more on the Cyber Reserve Program, including our concept of operations and remote participation program in the shared document library on Portal at https://cglink.uscg.mil/cgcc3r. 12 RESERVIST � Issue 4 • 2021
