On September 26, 2024 Minister of National Defence, and General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff, officially announced the establishment of the Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command (CAFCYBERCOM). This new command will consolidate the CAF’s cyber capabilities into a single unified and dedicated entity, which will enhance the military’s readiness to tackle threats in the cyber domain.
This new command will be led by Major-General Dave Yarker, who will be responsible for cyber operations, and cyber force sustainment, management, and development.
Through CAFCYBERCOM, the CAF continues to develop and scale its offensive and defensive cyber operations capabilities in close cooperation with the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE). The CAF and CSE have a longstanding partnership in developing advanced technical and specialized capabilities for providing intelligence to support military operations. Over the last decade, the partnership has evolved to include collaboration in the areas of cybersecurity, and defensive and offensive cyber operations.
The new CAF Cyber Command also enables Canada to meet our NATO commitments such as the Virtual Cyber Incident Support Capability and the Sovereign Cyber Effects Provided Voluntarily by Allies. The creation of the new command aligns with similar investments by Canada’s key partners and allies in NORAD, the “Five Eyes” alliance, and NATO. By bolstering its cyber capabilities, Canada is supporting greater interoperability with its allies, is better equipped to counter the full spectrum of cyber threats, and is advancing NATO mission goals and objectives.