Officers Only: New Report Lays Out What a ‘US Cyber Force’ Could Look Like
3rd June 2026
A new report argues that an independent Cyber Force should be staffed by only commissioned officers and warrant officers to better develop the highly technical skillsets that digital conflict demands.
Published Wednesday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, two Washington, D.C. think tanks, the report proposes a blueprint for standing up a Cyber Force, should Congress decide to do so.
Policymakers in the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill have debated for years whether the U.S. military needs an independent Cyber Force. Opponents say it would lead to unnecessary bureaucracy and confusion, but some current and former cyber troops say readiness suffers without a service that prioritizes recruiting, training, and equipping cyber troops above all others.