ADF strengthens cyber focus with new Command

The Australian Defence Force’s cyber capability has taken a step forward, with the establishment of the new Defence Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and Cyber Command unit.

As of 29 January, the new Joint SIGINT Unit and the recently established Joint Cyber Unit are operating under the Defence SIGINT and Cyber Command alongside civilian teams from the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD).

"The Defence SIGINT and Cyber Command continues the long standing tradition of ADF personnel working within ASD to ensure support to military operations remains the agency’s highest priority," Chief of Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Binskin said.

Under inaugural commander, Commodore James McCormack, RAN, Defence said the newly formed Command will bring all ADF SIGINT and cyber personnel working within ASD together in a more refined command structure.

"The new command arrangements will support a more coherent military workforce, and create an organisational structure to support the future growth of our military cyber workforce, which was outlined in the 2016 Defence White Paper," CDRE McCormack said.

The Chief of the Defence Force will exercise command of the Defence SIGINT and Cyber Command through Chief of Joint Capabilities (Information Warfare Division), which was established in July 2017.