Navy nominee brings cyber experience to top echelons of Pentagon leadership

He would be the first officer to lead a service that has also commanded a service cyber component.

Many in the national security community have said how modern conflicts will require a “multi-domain” approach, one in which capabilities from all five domains of warfare, land, sea, air, space and cyber will be included.

Gilday’s cyber experience will help normalize cyber operations at the Joint Chiefs level.

“Vice Adm. Gilday’s nomination would make a lot of sense given what the next [chief of naval operations] will face,” Bill Leigher, who helped create Fleet Cyber Command, wrote to Fifth Domain in an email. “To continue to work toward CNO Richardson’s goal of 355 ships, a push for robotics and increased use of artificial intelligence in the fleet will require leadership skills that extend beyond usual line officer experience. Adm. Gilday’s career experience as a surface warfare officer and his outstanding leadership at Fleet Cyber Command perhaps make him uniquely qualified to guide the Navy as it makes hard choices in building the next Navy.”