Erica Borghard argues in support of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission’s March 2020 report recommendation to establish a “major force program (MFP)” category for cyberspace. A MFP gives particular acquisition authorities that improve speed and autonomy, allowing for more “service-like” acquisitions. Borghard highlights some acquisitions challenges unique to the cyber, including that it is highly integrated throughout all other domains, making deciding exactly what counts as “cyber-peculiar” difficult. Borghard claims that although U.S. Cyber Command has been well-equipped with Title 10 authorities and allowed to adopt more offensive-focused operations, it still lacks the flexibility it needs in acquisitions. Expanding Cyber Command’s current limited acquisition authority into a dedicated MFP would allow for rapid acquisition of more innovative capabilities, dedicated research and development, expansion of personnel, and to more easily resolve disputes with other services.
