Kilmer, Tsongas Introduce Bill to Maximize Military Cyber Investments
WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 29, 2014 – Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Niki Tsongas (MA-03) introduced a bill (H.R. 4500) yesterday to increase coordination for cyber and information technology ranges in the Department of Defense (DOD).
This cyber range legislation would require the DOD to make specific improvements to the way these facilities are managed across the department. Cyber ranges are networks used by DOD military, civilian, and contractor personnel for a variety of initiatives – including training for combat situations and research and development for technological breakthroughs. As of 2012, there were more than 60 ranges operating under DOD with most being used for training scenarios and around 11 in use for research and development. As the DOD and the services increase capacity and utilization of their cyber and IT ranges, it is critical that the department coordinate the use of these ranges and remove redundancies that waste tax dollars.
“Cyber capabilities are essential to American security in the 21st century,” said Kilmer. “Cyber ranges, like traditional target ranges, allow our military to develop the skills necessary to handle incoming threats. They also serve as laboratories of innovation where partnerships between businesses, academic institutions, national labs, and defense personnel create technological breakthroughs. Our bill ensures better coordination across the many ranges currently operated by the DOD to maximize the role they play in boosting our defense and new opportunities to private companies.”
“In order to be prepared to meet future threats and take advantage of future opportunities, America must remain at the forefront of innovation,” said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, an original cosponsor of the bill. “The Department of Defense’s ability to take full advantage of the most cutting edge cyber and information technology is critical for military readiness. This legislation will help eliminate redundancy in each of the services and will ensure that the DoD’s test and training ranges for information technology and cyber defense are well-managed and well-coordinated – optimizing efficiency and effectiveness.”
The bill would direct DOD to implement the following measures:
- Designate a new cyber range executive agent to coordinate use and integrate commonalities;
- Require an inventory of cyber / IT ranges across the department;
- Authorize demonstration projects to advance the utility of cyber / IT ranges; and
- Establish cyber terminology to ease communication.
This bill is part of Representatives Kilmer and Tsongas’s ongoing work to maximize DOD’s cyber and information technology investments. Last week they announced legislation titled the Department of Defense Cloud Security Act, which makes DOD information technology systems stronger, more efficient, and more secure.
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