Research Summaries

Back Key Terrain in Cyberspace

Fiscal Year 2015
Division School of International Graduate Studies
Department National Security Affairs
Investigator(s) Huntley, Wade L.
Sponsor Marine Corps Systems Command (Marine Corps)
Summary This project will undertake comprehensive research focusing on the use of the concept of “key terrain” in US government policy and doctrine on cyberspace operations. This research will also compare and contrast use of the concept in non-governmental analysis, and evaluate existing methods for “valuing” cyberspace assets as this relates to delineating “key terrain” in cyberspace. The project will assess the concept of key terrain in cyberspace on both conceptual and historical grounds. Conceptual assessment will focus on logical consistency with use of the concept of key terrain in other domains of warfare. Historical assessment will focus on a select set of relevant recent instances of state-level cyber conflict. The project will generate a rigorously-defended judgment on whether use of the term key terrain at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels of warfare aids or inhibits informed decision-making, and provide policy-relevant recommendations accordingly. The project will present preliminary findings at the Cyberspace Key Terrain Workshop at NPS on 7-8 July 2015, and produce a detailed bibliography, written report, and annotated briefing slides by December 31, 2015. The project principal investigator will provide briefings on project findings to Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Marine Forces Cyber Command, and other interested parties.
Keywords
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal