Boarding the Dark Fleet: Coast Guard Cyber and Maritime Security with RADM Jason Tama

The maritime world is more connected than ever, creating new efficiencies—and new ways for cyber incidents to move quickly from shore-based networks to ships operating around the globe. Rear Admiral Jason Tama, Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command, joins Frank Cilluffo to explain how the Coast Guard operates across military, intelligence, law-enforcement, regulatory, and homeland-security missions to protect the Marine Transportation System and counter adversaries in cyberspace.

The conversation also examines the Coast Guard's latest Cyber Trends and Insights in the Marine Environment report, including cyber operations aboard Dark Fleet vessels, the growing convergence of IT and operational technology, persistent weaknesses in basic cyber defenses, and the importance of working closely with industry. Tama argues that prevention alone will never be enough: maritime operators also need to be prepared to keep functioning through their "worst digital day."

Main Topics Covered

Coast Guard Cyber Command's three-part mission Title 10, Title 14, and Title 50 authorities Coast Guard integration with U.S. Cyber Command Cyber operations aboard Dark Fleet vessels Cyber risk across ports and maritime infrastructure Public-private operational partnerships Persistent cybersecurity fundamentals International maritime cyber cooperation Key Quotes

"You can't wait till the crisis or contingency to bring everyone together."

— Rear Admiral Jason Tama

"The great thing about ships now is they're all connected all the time. The bad thing is the ships are all connected all the time."

— Rear Admiral Jason Tama

"We're never going to Cyber our way out of this problem, right? There's no Cyber panacea."

— Rear Admiral Jason Tama

"Resilience is so important and everybody has to be able to think about and have a plan for how do you continue to operate on your worst digital day because it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when." — Rear Admiral Jason Tama

"The work we're doing in the wild from whether it's power plants to cranes to locks and dams ... all over the world, it's really incredible mission work." — Rear Admiral Jason Tama