Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/436751
18 Proceedings Winter 2014 – 2015 www.uscg.mil/proceedings For the Coast Guard, cyberspace activity starts in our work areas, with our computer systems, Internet, and smartphones, and extends to the complex command, con- trol, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems on cutters, small boats, aviation platforms, and at command centers. In essence, we have transitioned into a wireless world, where we manage virtually all information through computer- based command-and-control systems. As such, CG person- nel have a more pervasive dependency upon cyberspace than at any time in our history. Ironically, the very integra- tion we seek to stay connected and optimize operational capabilities also presents vulnerabilities and challenges. Battles for cyber supremacy already have a major impact on both geo-political and economic fronts. Events in recent years, such as the massive denial of service attacks against Georgia and Estonia 3 and the plethora of politically moti- vated attacks against businesses and entire industry sectors, show the impact of the denial of freedom of information and disruption of systems dependent upon the Internet or gov- ernment sites. Meanwhile, the successes of companies such as Google and Facebook clearly depict the value of Internet and social media market dominance. Likewise, the nation's critical maritime infrastructure — the port facilities, refneries, waterways, locks, and dams — that control, process, and expedite the maritime transportation fow of goods to and from the U.S. are also critically depen- dent upon the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace. To ensure our nation continues to beneft from its maritime domain, we must also facilitate cyberspace safety. So, what does that mean for the Coast Guard? To begin, it is important to defne key cyber-related terms and provide background to understand this critical ffth domain alongside the physical domains of air, land, sea, and outer space. Cyberspace and Cyber Supremacy The Department of Defense (DOD) defnes cyberspace as "a global domain within the information environment consisting of the interdependent network of information technology infrastructures and resident data, including the Internet, telecommunications networks, computer systems, and embedded processors and controllers." 1 As an opera- tional domain, cyberspace encompasses the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum (including the entire range of wavelengths or frequencies of electromagnetic waves from gamma rays to radio waves and visible light) and manmade electronic systems created to operate across this domain. 2 Cyberspace — the Imminent Operational Domain A construct to tackle the Coast Guard's tough challenges. by CAPT Jeff RaDGOWski Commander U.S. Coast Guard Cryptologic Group CAPT kaTheRine TiOnGsOn Chief U.S. Coast Guard Intelligence Plans and Policy Governance " Fut ure conf lict s will be won in a new arena — that of the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace. We must merge, then master those realms." — Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert, USN