Date of Award

3-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Cyber Defense (PhDCD)

First Advisor

Cody Welu

Second Advisor

Mary Bell

Third Advisor

Kristin Eschenfelder

Abstract

There has been a debate for more than a decade in the United States about the precise role National Guard and Reserve military forces, and the National Guard in particular, can and should play in cyberspace operations. There are legal, policy, doctrinal, organizational, cultural, and bureaucratic issues that must be overcome or understood to employ National Guard forces for national cyber operations. Leaders in Congress, U.S. Cyber Command, and the National Guard have clearly articulated the need to leverage the cyber expertise in the National Guard in defense of the nation. Papers, articles, and hearings have repeatedly examined the existing landscape and proposed various solutions, including legislation and new organizations, but none has resulted in the type of comprehensive understanding required to clearly assign national cyberspace missions and functions while in Title 32 status beyond training. The National Guard is uniquely positioned as a reserve force with a dual federal and state status, and has over 4,000 cyber personnel with deep expertise in cyberspace operations and cybersecurity. In this dissertation we will examine the many proposals for solutions to date, with limited progress. This dissertation examines the existing law, policy, doctrine, and operational practice governing the use of National Guard cyber forces in Title 32 status for national cyber missions. Using a multi-method qualitative design that integrates documentary analysis, a practitioner survey, and a focused case study, the study identifies where current authorities enable Title 32 mission support, where implementation barriers persist, and what governance mechanisms are needed for repeatable execution.

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