Independent study on United States Cyber Command organization and resourcing

(a) Agreement (1) In general The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center or other independent entity to perform the services covered by this section. (2) Timing The Secretary shall seek to enter into the agreement described in paragraph (1) not later than March 1, 2027. (b) Independent study (1) In general Under an agreement between the Secretary and a center or entity under subsection (a), the center or entity shall conduct a study on the organizational constructs and resourcing of the United States Cyber Command. (2) Scope The study conducted under paragraph (1) shall be limited to the headquarters element of United States Cyber Command and the personnel, positions, and resources directly assigned to the Command. The study shall not address the organization or resourcing of cyber operations forces assigned to or retained by the military departments or other combatant commands. (3) Elements In conducting the study under paragraph (1), the center or entity shall conduct an assessment of— (A) the applicability of the doctrinal organizational construct of a unified combatant command to the unique operational and technological requirements of the cyber domain, including— (i) the ability of the current organizational construct to support the operational responsibilities of United States Cyber Command as a combatant command under section 164 of title 10, United States Code; (ii) the ability of the current organizational construct to support the responsibilities of United States Cyber Command under section 167b of title 10, United States Code, including the functions of a service-like combatant command with respect to cyber operations forces; and (iii) the ability of the current organizational construct to support the acquisition responsibilities of United States Cyber Command, including the program executive office for the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture established pursuant to section 1509 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 10 U.S.C. 167b note); (B) the organizational structure and resourcing of United States Special Operations Command as a comparative model for a service-like combatant command operating across military departments; and (C) the personnel, workforce development, recruitment and retention, facilities, and infrastructure required to meet the operational and statutory demands of United States Cyber Command. (c) Consultation In conducting the study required under subsection (b), the center or entity shall consult with— (1) military and civilian personnel assigned to the headquarters element of United States Cyber Command; (2) commanders and senior leaders of the military departments responsible for generating cyber forces; (3) the Joint Staff, including relevant directorates with responsibility for cyber operations planning and resourcing; and (4) such other officials and stakeholders as the entity considers appropriate. (d) Alternative organizational models Under the agreement described in subsection (b)(1) between the Secretary and a center or entity, the center or entity shall, based on the study conducted under such subsection, develop not fewer than two alternative models for the organization and resourcing of the headquarters of United States Cyber Command, with analysis of the costs, benefits, and implementation considerations of each model. (e) Presentation to the Secretary and notice to Congress Not later than December 31, 2027, the independent entity shall present the models developed under subsection (d) to the Secretary of Defense. Not later than 30 days after receiving such presentation, the Secretary shall— (1) select a preferred organizational model; and (2) notify the congressional defense committees of the preferred model selected and the alternatives considered. (f) Implementation Plan Not later than April 30, 2028, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees an implementation plan for the preferred model selected under subsection (e)(1), including— (1) a detailed description of organizational changes required; (2) associated resourcing requirements, including any legislative changes necessary to carry out the plan; and (3) a proposed schedule for implementation.