The Death of the Cyber Generalist
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Authors
Kallberg, Jan
Bell, Patrick
Issue Date
2018
Type
Other
Language
Keywords
Defense Officer Personnel Management Act’s (DOPMA)
Alternative Title
Abstract
The Department of Defense (DoD) must abandon its “up-or-out” promotion model for cyber forces. It should let competent officers hold their positions longer. Applying the outdated Defense Officer Personnel Management Act’s (DOPMA) staffing model to the cyber force is foolish, and makes it difficult to keep experienced, technically-proficient cyber officers in the military. DOPMA’s prescribed career paths entail officers’ attendance at a variety of schools, with several rotations through geographical areas and work domains. In the process, domain-specific knowledge that would allow officers to lead and understand the impact of their various choices in a technically complex and ever-changing environment evaporates. In a world of increasing complexity, shortened windows of opportunity to act, and constantly-changing technical environments, the generalist leaders that the DOPMA system yields may doom the military’s cyber force to failure.
Description
Citation
Patrick Bell, Jan Kallberg. "The Death of the Cyber Generalist". War Room Online Journal, 2018.
Publisher
War Room Online Journal