Army announces plans for Cyber Command HQ

The Army announced May 21 it will establish a new headquarters for its Cyber Command forces inside the capital region by October 2010 at the latest.

The Army Forces Cyber Command is the Army's portion of the U.S. Cyber Command, under the direction of National Security Agency chief Keith Alexander. The command coordinates the country's network defenses and oversees any offensive cyber attacks by the United States. The total command will be based at NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland, and is expected to exceed 21,000 soldiers and civilians. It will include units from each of the four branches of the armed services. Supporters say Alexander's role at the NSA will give the new Cyber Command exceptional leverage and influence. The Army indicated Friday that it expects to have everything in place for the October deadline.