Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that President Obama will nominate Army Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander for promotion to four stars and to take command of the new US Cyber Command under US Strategic Command in addition to continuing as director of the National Security Agency and chief of Central Security Service. All three posts would be headquartered at Ft. Meade, Md. In June, Gates directed STRATCOM boss, Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, to establish the new Cyber Command and, at the time, indicated that he wanted Alexander to be the first commander. Alexander will need Senate confirmation.
When Donald Trump begins his second term as president in January, national security law experts anticipate he may return to his old habit of issuing orders to the military via social media, a practice which could cause confusion in the ranks.