U.S. Fleet Cyber Command
The United States Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) is an Echelon II command of the U.S. Navy, established on January 29, 2010, to direct naval operations in cyberspace.[1][2] Dual-hatted with Commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet, it functions as the Navy's component to U.S. Cyber Command, focusing on integrating cyber capabilities across naval warfighting domains.[3] Headquartered at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, FCC has expanded into a force comprising over 19,000 personnel responsible for information network operations, cyber defense, and offensive cyber activities.[4][5] FCC's mission encompasses planning, coordinating, integrating, synchronizing, directing, and conducting the full spectrum of cyberspace operations to ensure naval freedom of action in, through, and from cyberspace while denying adversaries equivalent capabilities.[6] This includes technical oversight of Navy networks via inspections like the Command Cyber Operational Readiness Inspection, support to joint and coalition partners, and contributions to electromagnetic spectrum and space operations under its aligned Navy Space Command structure.[6][7] The command draws historical precedent from the original Tenth Fleet of World War II, which countered U-boat threats, adapting that maritime domain awareness model to modern cyber threats against naval logistics and communications.[8] Notable aspects include its role in building naval cyber workforce capacity and recent organizational expansions, such as the 2025 establishment of Cyber Group-One to enhance operational squadrons.[9] However, FCC operates amid broader Department of Defense challenges in cyber force generation and readiness, with congressional scrutiny over naval cyber performance prompting calls for structural reforms.[10][11] These efforts underscore FCC's central position in maintaining cyber superiority for sea power projection against peer competitors.[12]
Mission and Responsibilities
Core Functions in Cyberspace Operations
The U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) directs the full spectrum of cyberspace operational activities to secure Navy freedom of action across warfighting domains while denying the same to adversaries.[6] This encompasses planning, coordinating, integrating, synchronizing, and conducting operations in, through, and from cyberspace, supporting joint and coalition efforts in the cyber, electromagnetic spectrum, and space domains.[6] As the Navy component to U.S. Cyber Command, FCC organizes, trains, and equips cyber forces, including 40 Cyber Mission Force units, to deliver tactical and operational effects globally.[13] Defensive cyberspace operations form a foundational function, focused on protecting Navy networks and enabling resilient command and control in contested environments.[1] FCC enhances cyber situational awareness through advanced tools like artificial intelligence, trains forces to defend forward, and ensures networks can "fight hurt" by maintaining availability and integrity amid attacks.[13] These efforts align with broader Department of Defense priorities, such as persistent engagement, where FCC maneuvers proactively to disrupt adversary reconnaissance and preserve mission assurance.[13] Offensive cyberspace operations enable FCC to generate warfighting effects that degrade adversary capabilities and support distributed maritime operations.[1] The command promotes integrated planning for cyber effects delivery, including deployment of small tactical teams to achieve synchronized impacts across fleet and joint forces.[13] These activities contribute to integrated fires, disrupting enemy decision-making and enabling naval superiority in cyberspace.[13] Information network operations underpin both offensive and defensive efforts by securely operating and maintaining Navy networks as a warfighting platform.[1] FCC oversees battlespace awareness through cyber intelligence and ensures assured command and control, leveraging approximately 14,000 personnel across 55 subordinate commands to sustain global operations.[13] This function integrates with space and signals intelligence to provide comprehensive domain effects, emphasizing readiness for full-spectrum information warfare.[13]Role within U.S. Cyber Command and Navy Information Warfare
U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) serves as the Navy's service component to U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), providing trained and equipped cyber forces to support the unified combatant command's mission of conducting global cyberspace operations.[14] In this capacity, FCC exercises administrative and operational control over assigned Navy cyber units, enabling USCYBERCOM to direct joint cyberspace efforts, defend Department of Defense information networks, and integrate Navy capabilities into broader cyber missions.[14] Established as part of the Navy's alignment with USCYBERCOM's activation on May 21, 2010, FCC ensures the Navy contributes to national cyber defense and offensive operations through synchronized planning and execution.[15] As the central operational authority for Navy cyberspace activities under USCYBERCOM, FCC directs worldwide Navy cryptologic operations, secures the Navy's portion of the DoD Information Network (DoDIN), and delivers integrated cyber, electronic warfare, and space capabilities.[14] It assesses Navy cyber readiness, prioritizes requirements for cyber and cryptologic forces, and maintains a global Navy cyber common operational picture to support deterrence against aggression in cyberspace.[14] FCC's role extends to organizing and supporting information operations, ensuring freedom of action for naval forces in contested digital environments.[14] Within Navy Information Warfare (IW), FCC integrates cyberspace operations with signals intelligence, electronic warfare, and space domains to enhance naval warfighting effectiveness.[4] It plans, coordinates, and conducts the full spectrum of Navy cyberspace activities, including offensive and defensive operations, as part of the broader IW enterprise that relies on information dominance for decision-making superiority.[6] Reporting directly to the Chief of Naval Operations as an Echelon II command, FCC aligns IW efforts with fleet requirements, providing operational direction through its Maritime Operations Center at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.[4] This structure positions FCC to evolve Navy IW capabilities amid increasing cyber threats, though challenges persist in fully embedding cyber teams under fleet commanders for tactical execution.[16]Organizational Structure
Command Hierarchy and Reporting
The U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) operates as an Echelon II command within the U.S. Navy, reporting directly to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) for administrative control, resource management, and service-specific responsibilities, including oversight of Navy information networks, cyberspace operations, space operations, and signals intelligence.[4][3] This direct reporting line positions FCC at a high level in the Navy's organizational structure, distinct from lower-echelon commands that fall under fleet commanders or numbered fleets for routine operations.[1] In its operational role, FCC functions as the Navy's service component to U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), providing cyber forces, capabilities, and support to execute joint cyberspace missions under USCYBERCOM's direction, including defensive cyber operations on the Department of Defense Information Network and offensive actions as authorized.[14] The Commander, FCC exercises administrative and operational control over assigned Navy cyber assets in support of USCYBERCOM, ensuring alignment with broader joint force requirements while maintaining Navy-specific priorities.[14] The Commander of FCC holds multiple dual-hatted roles to integrate operational execution: as Commander, U.S. 10th Fleet (C10F), which serves as FCC's operational arm, directing task-organized forces for cyber, electromagnetic, and space domains through a structure analogous to other Navy numbered fleets; and as Commander, Joint Force Headquarters - Cyber (Navy) (JFHQ-C), responsible for synchronizing Navy cyber contributions to joint defensive cyberspace operations.[4][17] This structure enables seamless reporting across administrative (to CNO) and combatant command (to USCYBERCOM) chains, with C10F handling tactical execution of FCC's strategic directives.[1] FCC's hierarchy emphasizes centralized authority for Navy cyber readiness, with the command assessing operational capabilities, developing requirements for cyber, cryptologic, and electronic warfare systems, and directing over 19,000 personnel across global units, including Cyber Mission Force teams.[1] Subordinate elements, such as cyber wings and squadrons, report upward through FCC's chain to ensure unified command and control, while the overall framework supports the Navy's integration into joint and coalition cyber efforts without diluting service-specific accountability to the CNO.[18]Subordinate Commands and Units
U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) directs naval cyberspace and information operations through a network of subordinate Cyber Task Forces (CTFs), each aligned with specialized commands for defensive, offensive, and enabling functions in the cyber domain.[4] These CTFs integrate cryptologic, signals intelligence, network defense, and warfare development activities across global locations, supporting both U.S. 10th Fleet operational control and contributions to U.S. Cyber Command's joint mission forces.[19] As of 2025, FCC oversees approximately 40 active subordinate commands and 29 reserve units worldwide.[20] Key subordinate task forces include:- CTF 1010 (Naval Network Warfare Command - NAVNETWARCOM): Focuses on network-centric warfare integration and command-and-control for information operations.[4]
- CTF 1020 (Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command - NCDOC): Provides defensive cyberspace operations, including network protection and incident response for naval information systems.[4]
- CTF 1040 (Navy Information Operations Command Texas - NIOC Texas): Conducts signals intelligence, electronic warfare, and cyber support from Fort Gordon, Georgia.[4]
- CTF 1050 (Navy Information Operations Command Georgia - NIOC Georgia): Manages information operations groups in Georgia and Bahrain, emphasizing cryptologic support and cyber effects.[4][21]
- CTF 1060 (Cryptologic Warfare Group Six - CWG-6): Develops and delivers offensive cryptologic capabilities, including tailored cyber tools and tactics.[4][22]
- CTF 1070 (Navy Information Operations Command Hawaii - NIOC Hawaii): Oversees Pacific-based information operations, including cryptologic warfare and cyber reconnaissance.[4][23]
- CTF 1090 (Navy Information Operations Command Maryland - NIOC Maryland): Supports cyberspace operations from Fort Meade, Maryland, with focus on joint integration and defensive missions.[4]
Personnel Composition and Cyber Workforce Development
The U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) maintains a workforce exceeding 13,000 billets and positions, encompassing active duty sailors, reservists, and civilians dedicated to cyberspace operations and information warfare.[4] This composition draws heavily from the Navy's Information Dominance Corps (IDC), which supplies specialized personnel in cryptology, information technology, cyber, and related fields to support FCC's operational requirements.[24] Civilians play a critical role, particularly in technical and analytical positions, with recruitment emphasizing U.S. citizenship and eligibility for Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearances to bolster cyber and space missions.[25] Cyber workforce development within FCC aligns with the Department of the Navy's Cyber Workforce (CWF) Program, which standardizes qualifications, training, and certifications under the DoD Cyberspace Workforce Framework.[26] Sailors and civilians pursue specialized ratings such as Cyber Warfare Technician (CWT), focusing on network protection and cyber operations, and Cyber Warfare Engineer (CWE), emphasizing computer science and secure systems development.[27] [28] Training occurs primarily through the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT), delivering Navy and joint courses in cyber, cryptology, and intelligence via platforms like the DoD Cyber Exchange and Joint Knowledge Online.[29] To enhance innovation and readiness, FCC leverages the Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group (NCWDG), where military and civilian personnel experiment with emerging cyberspace tools, conduct rapid prototyping, and test capabilities to meet fleet operational needs.[30] Recent Navy initiatives, including manning adjustments and training reforms, have addressed Cyber Mission Force readiness gaps, contributing to broader DoD efforts that reduced civilian cyber hiring times below 80 days by 2024 and lowered vacancy rates.[31] [32] Professional development opportunities include flexible schedules and affiliation with Naval traditions, aiding retention in high-demand cyber roles.[33]Historical Development
Establishment and Initial Formation (2010)
The U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) was officially established on January 29, 2010, as the Navy's component to U.S. Cyber Command, following the Department of Defense's recognition of cyberspace as a critical warfighting domain.[34][35] This creation aligned with the Chief of Naval Operations' vision to integrate cyber capabilities for operational superiority, building on the Navy's 2009 acknowledgment of cyberspace operations as essential to information dominance.[35] The establishment ceremony occurred at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, where Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead commissioned FCC and simultaneously recommissioned the U.S. 10th Fleet, designating it as the operational arm of FCC with control over Navy cyber forces.[34][36] Vice Admiral Bernard J. "Barry" McCullough assumed command of both FCC and U.S. 10th Fleet, overseeing the initial alignment of existing Navy cyber units into a unified structure focused on defensive and offensive cyberspace operations.[37][34] Initial formation efforts centralized command of Navy information network operations, signals intelligence, and cryptology under FCC, drawing from prior organizations like the Navy Network Warfare Command to enhance synchronization with joint cyber missions.[4] FCC reported directly to the Chief of Naval Operations while providing tailored forces to U.S. Cyber Command, established months earlier in 2009 to address growing cyber threats to national security.[15][38] This structure enabled the Navy to rapidly operationalize cyber capabilities, with early emphasis on securing networks and supporting global fleet operations through integrated cyber warfare units.[35]Expansion and Integration with U.S. 10th Fleet
U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) was established on January 29, 2010, at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, with Vice Admiral Bernard J. McCullough III as its inaugural commander.[39] Concurrently, U.S. 10th Fleet was recommissioned as a functional fleet under FCC's operational control, shifting its focus from World War II-era anti-submarine warfare to directing Navy cyberspace operations, electromagnetic spectrum operations, and information warfare.[34] This integration positioned the FCC commander in a dual-hatted role as Commander, U.S. 10th Fleet, enabling unified command over cyber forces while aligning with U.S. Cyber Command's service component structure.[1] The recommissioning of 10th Fleet as FCC's force provider facilitated rapid expansion by providing a dedicated framework for organizing, training, and equipping Navy cyber units.[40] Initially drawing from existing Navy information dominance capabilities, the command incorporated subordinate elements such as the Naval Network Warfare Command and later expanded to include specialized groups like the Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group.[40] By 2020, FCC/U.S. 10th Fleet had grown to encompass over 14,000 active and reserve personnel, civilians, and contractors, reflecting increased investment in cyber workforce development and operational capacity.[41] Further expansion integrated joint and multi-domain elements, such as the establishment of Joint Force Headquarters - Cyber under FCC in coordination with U.S. Cyber Command, enhancing defensive and offensive cyber mission synchronization.[42] In August 2025, FCC, U.S. Navy Space Command, and U.S. 10th Fleet stood up Cyber Group-One (CG-1), a new command to bolster cyber operations across maritime, space, and cyber domains, underscoring ongoing structural evolution.[9] This progression from initial integration to scaled operational forces has positioned FCC/10th Fleet as a cornerstone of Navy contributions to national cyber defense.[1]Key Evolutionary Milestones Post-2010
In 2015, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command released its Strategic Plan for 2015–2020, emphasizing guiding principles including leadership, operational excellence, agility, transparency, accountability, and partnership to enhance cyberspace operations and mission force development.[43] This document marked a formalization of long-term objectives amid expanding cyber threats, building on the command's initial integration efforts.[44] By October 2017, all 40 of the Navy's Cyber Mission Force teams—key operational units under Fleet Cyber Command's oversight—achieved full operational capability, as validated by U.S. Cyber Command, enabling certified offensive, defensive, and support missions in cyberspace.[45] This milestone reflected significant expansion in trained personnel and infrastructure, with the command's forces growing to over 16,000 active and reserve sailors and civilians organized into multiple subordinate units by early 2018.[46] In 2018, U.S. Cyber Command's overall Cyber Mission Force reached full operational capability across 133 teams, with Fleet Cyber Command serving as the Navy's primary contributor of cyberspace forces, coinciding with Cyber Command's elevation to a unified combatant command status under the National Defense Authorization Act.[47] This structural elevation enhanced Fleet Cyber Command's authority and resource allocation for joint operations, prioritizing persistent engagement against adversaries.[48] The command issued its Strategic Plan for 2020–2025 in July 2020, shifting focus to six pillars—people, access, execution, capability, competition, and tactical situation awareness—to address great power competition and sustain daily cyberspace operations.[13] This plan supported reorganization efforts, including designation as the U.S. Navy component to U.S. Space Command for space operations.[49] By 2022, Fleet Cyber Command's structure evolved to explicitly incorporate leadership over Joint Force Headquarters–Cyber (Navy) for defensive cyberspace operations and U.S. Navy Space Command for space domain awareness and operations, as highlighted during command transitions at Fort George G. Meade.[50] This integration expanded the command's scope beyond core cyber functions to multi-domain responsibilities.[42] In August 2025, Fleet Cyber Command established Cyber Group-One in Wahiawa, Hawaii, as a new subordinate command to bolster offensive and defensive cyber capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, aligning with broader Navy force posture enhancements.[9] This development underscored ongoing organizational adaptation to regional threats and operational demands.[20]Leadership and Commanders
Current and Acting Leadership
Vice Admiral Heidi K. Berg assumed command of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC)/U.S. Tenth Fleet, concurrently serving as Commander, Navy Space Command and Director, Joint Force Headquarters–Cyber (Navy), on October 1, 2025.[17] Berg, a 1991 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with expertise in surface warfare and information warfare, was nominated by President Donald Trump on September 5, 2025, for promotion to vice admiral and assignment to this role, succeeding Vice Admiral Craig A. Clapperton.[51][17] Prior to this, she served as deputy commander of FCC/Tenth Fleet, where she contributed to cyber operations integration across naval domains.[17][52] As commander, Berg oversees approximately 6,200 personnel focused on Navy cyberspace operations, electromagnetic warfare, and information dominance, reporting directly to the Chief of Naval Operations as an Echelon II command.[4] No acting leadership transitions have been reported since her assumption of command, reflecting stable continuity in FCC's operational leadership amid ongoing expansions in cyber squadrons and workforce development.[9] Key subordinate leaders include Rear Admiral Kurt Mole as deputy commander and Rear Admiral DeWayne Sanders in a senior operational role, supporting Berg's direction on defensive and offensive cyber missions aligned with U.S. Cyber Command objectives.[53]List of Past Commanders and Their Tenures
Vice Admiral Bernard J. McCullough III served as the inaugural commander from January 29, 2010, to October 12, 2011.[39][54] Vice Admiral Michael S. Rogers commanded from October 12, 2011, until mid-2014, when he transitioned to leadership of U.S. Cyber Command.[54][39] Vice Admiral Jan E. Tighe held the position from 2014 to 2016.[55] Vice Admiral Michael Gilday led from approximately June 2016 to June 18, 2018.[56][57] Vice Admiral Timothy J. White commanded from June 18, 2018, to September 18, 2020.[57][58] Vice Admiral Ross Myers served from September 18, 2020, to August 12, 2022.[58][42] Vice Admiral Craig A. Clapperton commanded from August 12, 2022, until 2024.[42][59]| Commander | Rank | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Bernard J. McCullough III | Vice Admiral | January 29, 2010 – October 12, 2011[39][54] |
| Michael S. Rogers | Vice Admiral | October 12, 2011 – mid-2014[54][39] |
| Jan E. Tighe | Vice Admiral | 2014 – 2016[55] |
| Michael Gilday | Vice Admiral | ~June 2016 – June 18, 2018[56][57] |
| Timothy J. White | Vice Admiral | June 18, 2018 – September 18, 2020[57][58] |
| Ross Myers | Vice Admiral | September 18, 2020 – August 12, 2022[58][42] |
| Craig A. Clapperton | Vice Admiral | August 12, 2022 – 2024[42][59] |