# CYBERCOM Accelerates Innovation with Planned Silicon Valley Expansion **U.S. Cyber Command** (CYBERCOM) is moving to establish a new satellite office in Silicon Valley, a critical step in its ongoing modernization and a bid to deepen engagement with the private tech sector. The proposed outpost, dubbed **Cyber Command-West** (CC-W), is intended to be operational as soon as possible, according to informed sources. Initially, CC-W will be co-located with the **Defense Innovation Unit** (DIU), the Pentagon’s high-profile innovation arm. It will begin with a small team, with plans for subsequent expansion. ## Bridging the 'Valley of Death' CC-W will operate under its own director and support the nascent **Cyber Innovation Warfare Center** (CIWC). The CIWC is one of three key entities established under the recent “CYBERCOM 2.0” initiative, which revamped the military’s top digital warfighting unit. The initiative, fast-tracked by Defense Secretary **Pete Hegseth** last year, also includes a Cyber Talent Management Organization and an Advanced Cyber Training and Education Center. The primary goal of the CIWC is to accelerate the development and deployment of cyber weapons and online tactics, effectively bridging the so-called “valley of death”—the critical period between technology demonstration and government acquisition. This initiative ensures that vital tools can be integrated into digital operations in a timely manner. **Katie Sutton**, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy, highlighted the CIWC's role at a recent TechNet Cyber conference: “The CIWC will be our proving ground, a collaborative environment where operators and industry will sit side by side to test new concepts against realistic threats and operational scenarios.” She added, “It will bring our warfighters and industry developers into the same room to build and iterate together based on real-world operator feedback by forging this direct link between those who build the tools and those who wield them.” ## Strategic Location for Talent and Technology The concept for a West Coast branch, which will eventually house part of the CIWC’s mission, emerged from discussions between CYBERCOM and the Pentagon, with Deputy Defense Secretary **Steve Feinberg** reportedly taking a keen interest in enhancing the nation’s cyber capabilities. While many cutting-edge software and AI firms maintain a presence in the Washington D.C. area, establishing an office in California allows CYBERCOM to directly engage with both established tech giants and emerging startups. This proximity is also expected to aid in identifying and recruiting new cyber talent to become future operators. ## Congressional Support and Expert Endorsement While spokespeople for the Pentagon and CYBERCOM offered “nothing to announce at this time,” the news has been met with positive reactions from key figures. Rep. **Don Bacon** (R-NE), who chairs the House Armed Services cyber subcommittee, welcomed the development, stating, “There’s great synergy to have our cyber forces working alongside Silicon Valley. AI, for example, is transforming cyber offense and defensive [operations].” Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. **Charlie “Tuna” Moore**, former Deputy Commander of **U.S. Cyber Command**, lauded the creation of the innovation center as a “very good idea and represents the further maturity of the command.” He emphasized the strategic advantage of the West Coast location: “Setting it up out West is smart because of the organizations that are located there as well as the talent. As I have said many times, the only way we can scale Cyber Command operations, in terms of capacity and capability, to meet the needs of the nation is via a much stronger partnership with the private sector. This is an important step to accomplish that.”