A Galaxy of Cyber Four Stars?

The Army and Air Force CIOs -- Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sorenson and Lt Gen William L. Shelton -- would only get a one-star bump. But since Allen is a one star, BG, this could mean a three-star jump for him -- unless some folks don't think the Marines qualify as a fill-fledged service because they are part of the Navy.

That's what the Defense Science Board recommended in its report, "Creating An Assured Joint DoD and Interagency Interoperable Net-Centric Enterprise," which it released this month.

Networks, information systems and Defense-wide interoperability are so important that "high level four star leaders that are knowledgeable on net-centric issues are needed in each service's applicable net-centric billet."

And what is that? Well, the report is a little murky, saying only "the services should establish or elevate their net-centric/cyber commanders as four star officers."

Hmm. It seems to me the current service directors of command, control and communications/chief information officers are about the only folks who meet the "net-centric/cyber commanders" and that should thrill George Allen, the Marine CIO.

The Army and Air Force CIOs -- Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sorenson and Lt Gen William L. Shelton -- would only get a one-star bump. But since Allen is a one star, BG, this could mean a three-star jump for him -- unless some folks don't think the Marines qualify as a fill-fledged service because they are part of the Navy.

Where does Rob Carey, the civilian CIO of the Navy, fit into this promotion sweepstakes? Is there an SES four-star equivalent rank?

That's not all folks. Soon President Obama will stand up a new cyber command, which will also rate a four star, who will indubitably shine brighter than all the others.