US cyber fleet changes command

US Navy’s Fleet Cyber Command/US 10th Fleet (FCC/C10F) has welcomed a new commander in a ceremony at FCC/C10F Headquarters at Fort Meade, Maryland, on June 18.

Vice Adm. Timothy J. White relieved Vice Adm. Mike Gilday as commander on the fleet operations center watch floor.

White, who most recently served as the commander of the Cyber National Mission Force at US Cyber Command, takes the reins of FCC/C10F from Gilday, who will assume duties as the director for operations, J-3, for the Joint Staff at the Pentagon.

General Paul Nakasone, commander, US Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency was the ceremony’s guest speaker and presiding officer. He presented Gilday with the Distinguished Service Medal and commended his exceptional work and leadership while in command.

During his comments, Gilday lauded the exceptional work of the men and women of Fleet Cyber Command.

“These past 23 months have truly been a dream come true,” Gilday said. “Only in the US military could a Destroyerman, a Black Shoe, be so fortunate. I have been fascinated with our mission – signals intelligence, satellites, global telecommunications, networks, cyber – but it has been all of you, who work so hard, pouring everything into our mission., that makes Fleet Cyber truly a special command.”

Gilday also expressed his confidence in White becoming the next commander of FCC/C10F.

“When people describe the kind of shipmate they want by their side in combat, they’re describing Tim [Adm. White],” said Gilday. “A great naval officer, and we are lucky to have him here.”

White is now the fifth flag officer selected to command the Navy’s newest Fleet, which reports directly to the Chief of Naval Operations as an Echelon II command and is responsible for Navy information network operations, offensive and defensive cyberspace operations, space operations and signals intelligence. As such, US Fleet Cyber Command serves as the Navy component command to US Cyber Command, the Navy space component to US Strategic Command, and the Navy’s Service Cryptologic Component Commander under the National Security Agency/Central Security Service.

Since its establishment, FCC/C10F has grown into an operational force composed of more than 16,000 active and reserve sailors and civilians organized into 26 active commands, 40 Cyber Mission Force units, and 26 reserve commands. C10F provides support of Navy and joint missions in cyber/networks, cryptologic/signals intelligence and space.