Cybersecurity: Believe it or not, the buck should stop at the U.S. Coast Guard

Compare this with DHS at large, where one-fifth of the top positions are vacant, including almost all domestic-policy positions. Even if these positions were occupied, six of the eight top positions at NPPD—and many other component leaders within DHS—have some authority over cyber, creating a coordination issue that makes it difficult for NPPD to accomplish anything.  Further, the Coast Guard has a leader who clearly takes cybersecurity seriously, while the rest of DHS and the Administration have failed to prioritize this all-important issue.

Finally, the Coast Guard’s unique position as both a domestic and military organization is perfect for combating cyber threats. The defense department has a mature understanding of the legislative and budgeting process and has spent considerable resources to stand up cyber operations within the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force, respectively. The military’s institutional knowledge and resources would be valuable tools available to the Coast Guard should it manage cyber operations for DHS.

What is more, the Coast Guard is a core member of the Joint Chiefs and represents DHS at the defense table and routinely interacts with private-sector leaders. While NPPD has struggled to establish meaningful partnerships with stakeholders, the Coast Guard could bridge this gap by brokering its embedded and trusted relationships with the defense department, the intelligence community, and private industry.

The recent attack on OPM sounded the cyber alarm bell. “Winter is coming,” and Americans deserve—and need—a strong, competent, and smart cybersecurity command to keep them safe. Congress must end the syphoning of billions of taxpayer dollars to a broken program and instead should channel resources to the one organization fit for the task: the venerable U.S. Coast Guard.

James Norton is a homeland-security and public-safety policy expert. He has served as a senior defense-industry executive and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the Office of Legislative Affairs. He is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, teaching courses on cyber, homeland security and the legislative process. He has been lauded on both sides of the aisle for his pragmatic approach to the issues. Follow him on twitter @jamesnorton99