Military Review English Edition May-June 2014 | Page 28

The Utility of Cyberpower
Lt. Col. Kevin L. Parker, U.S. Air Force

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FTER MORE THAN 50 YEARS, the Korean War has not officially ended, but
artillery barrages seldom fly across the demilitarized zone.1 U.S. forces continue
to fight in Afghanistan after more than 10 years, with no formal declaration of war.2
Another conflict rages today with neither bullets nor declarations. In this conflict, U.S.
adversaries conduct probes, attacks, and assaults on a daily basis.3 The offensives are not
visible or audible, but they are no less real than artillery shells or improvised explosive
devices. This conflict occurs daily through cyberspace.
To fulfill the U.S. military’s purpose of defending the nation and advancing national
interests, today’s complex security environment requires increased engagement in cyberspace.4 Accordingly, the Department of Defense (DOD) now considers cyberspace an
operational domain.5 Similar to other domains, cyberspace has its own set of distinctive
characteristics. These attributes present unique advantages and corresponding limitations.
As the character of war changes, comprehending the utility of cyberpower requires assessing its advantages and limitations in potential strategic contexts.

Lt. Col. Kevin L. Parker, U.S. Air Force, is the commander of the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron at RAF
Mildenhall, United Kingdom. He holds a B.S. in civil engineering from Texas A&M University, an M.A. in human resource development from Webster University, and an M.S. in military operational art and science and an
M.Phil. in military strategy from Air University. He has deployed to Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, and twice to Iraq.