Warfighters Need AI Combined With Cyber

The confluence of artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber warfare needs to happen, beyond even what the U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) is doing, said the Army’s cyber adviser, Brandon Pugh, at AFCEA International’s TechNet Augusta conference on August 20.

“[What] I am super passionate about … is really looking at the nexus of AI and cyber,” Pugh emphasized. “And ARCYBER is doing a great job, but I think that is the direction we need to go in. What the CIO [chief information officer] is doing is super important work, but it is really AI at the enterprise and the business use case. How do we now push AI to the warfighter and actually get it out there?”

Pugh attested that using AI for cyber defense and offense is “a prime application.”

Another application, the Army cyber adviser said, is helping to defend the homeland—specifically protecting critical infrastructure.

“I think the Army has a unique role to play here, really making sure our domestic critical infrastructure is protected,” Pugh continued. “After all, most of our bases rely on private critical infrastructure.”

Pugh also said he sees AI aiding the budget process, in terms of effective determination of programs.

“A third aspect, and I could go on really forever, is leaning into our budget certification and budget adequacy determinations [with AI],” he stated. “It is tempting, I think, to just sign off at the last minute. I actually think that is a unique lever our office can play, not from a like cost-efficiency perspective perhaps, but making sure [the budget] is actually adequate, if there are opportunities we need to invest in.”

As the cyber adviser, Pugh could go to senior leaders and identify areas where additional funding would help, especially for cyber and electronic warfare, he noted.

Just in the job two months, Pugh noted that he will also focus on building partnerships within the Army and greater U.S. Department of Defense.

“My role is only successful if we coordinate and build relationships with people,” he shared.

Pugh also pointed to industry to continue to advance AI-related cyber.

“I would say, from an industry perspective, ... AI is actually really good for security, and that has driven a lot of our private sector partners to really rethink their offerings, seeing how they can leverage AI and use AI to continue to innovate,” he noted. “Automatic, automated responses and cyber-assist three or four years ago was only a concept for many. Now it is really cool to see a lot of vendors actually doing that right.”

As for the cyber adviser’s office, it is fully staffed, albeit with less than 20 people, and Pugh sees a lot of work to do.

“To the unique application of cyber, I think ARCYBER, admittedly, is probably one of the leaders out there looking at these applications, [but] still a lot of room that we can go there,” he said. “I think there is a prime opportunity here.”

And with the Army’s great expeditionary cyber capabilities, Pugh sees his role as raising awareness about their infusion across the service and making sure the capabilities continue to be resourced.

“I truly believe in the direction the Army’s going in,” Pugh said. “The Army’s continuous transformation is really a unique window, transforming the Army to the current battlefield, as well as where the future one is. And I think cyber is a key part of that.”