George Washington's Teachings on Cyberwar

George Washington called West Point, “the key to the continent.” The reasoning that Washington employed in establishing the fortifications at West Point is instructive to modern cyber warriors.

Washington’s fortifications at West Point applied the principles of military geography, the field of geography dealing with natural and manmade features that may affect the planning and conduct of military operations, to the engagement with the British. We discuss how the concepts of military geography can be applied to engagements in cyberspace. We propose that the application of the concepts of military geography requires that the cognitive dimension of the information environment be incorporated as a new fourth layer in the cyberspace model of Joint Publication 3-12(R) Cyberspace Operations. Finally, we discuss how the NSA Methodology for Adversary Obstruction provides a system to implement the principles of military geography in cyberspace.