Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lorna Mahlock has been confirmed by the Senate as the next deputy commander of U.S. Cyber Command.
The Senate approved Mahlock’s nomination Friday by voice vote. She was nominated for the role by President Donald Trump in December. Following confirmation, Mahlock will be promoted to lieutenant general and will succeed Navy Rear Adm. Dennis Velez, who has been serving as acting deputy commander of U.S. Cyber Command.
Mahlock brings deep operational and cyber leadership experience to the position. Since January 2024, she has served as commander of the Cyber National Mission Force.
Before assuming command of the Cyber National Mission Force, Mahlock held several senior leadership positions within the Marine Corps and NSA, including deputy director for combat support in the NSA’s Cybersecurity Directorate, assistant deputy commandant for information, director of Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4), and chief information officer for the Marine Corps. Those assignments placed her at the center of enterprise IT modernization, cyber defense, and operational support to combatant commanders.
Mahlock’s career reflects a blend of technical expertise and operational command. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, and enlisted in the Marine Corps before being selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Education Program. She graduated from Marquette University and was commissioned as an officer in 1991.
MajGen Mahlock is a certified Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Tower Local Controller and Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Instructor. She has commanded and led at various levels globally and in combat including: Air Traffic Control Detachment Commander; 1st Stinger Battery; Marine Corps Instructional Management School; G3 Future Operations 1st Marine Aircraft Wing; Operation SOUTHERN OVERWATCH and IRAQI FREEDOM 01; IRAQI FREEDOM 02; Marine Air Command and Control Systems Experimental; Commanding Officer – IRAQI FREEDOM 08; Headquarters European Command; Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs; Deputy Director of Operations, Plans Policy and Operations, (PP&O) Headquarters United States Marine Corps.
Mahlock holds multiple advanced degrees, including master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma, the Naval War College, and the U.S. Army War College, along with a master’s certificate in information operations from the Naval Postgraduate School. She is a graduate of the United Kingdom Defence College Higher Command and Staff Course and has earned executive certificates from MIT and Harvard.
Her personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and several other joint and service-level honors.
(AI was used in part to facilitate this article.)
