From the evolving realities of the modern digital battlespace to the advanced strategies that define victory, this framework provides a structured approach to building and applying cyber warfare expertise. It spans the full spectrum of competencies, including situational awareness of the cyber threat landscape, mastery of offensive and defensive tactics, integration of cyber threat intelligence, alignment with doctrine and policy, consideration of human factors, and the application of risk management principles. It also empowers organizations to strategically plan for resilience, ensuring they can anticipate, adapt, and excel in the face of persistent and sophisticated adversaries.

Eristotle Cyber Warfare Competency Model is designed to cover both technical and strategic capabilities required by professionals operating in offensive, defensive, and strategic cyber operations. This model is suited for use in military, intelligence, government, or national critical infrastructure contexts.

Core Competencies

These competencies apply across all cyber warfare roles.

Competency	Description	Proficiency Levels
Situational Awareness	Maintains real-time awareness of cyber terrain, threats, and operational context.	Expert
Mission Orientation	Aligns cyber activities with mission objectives and rules of engagement.	Expert
Critical Thinking	Analyzes ambiguous and incomplete information to inform rapid decision-making.	Advanced → Expert
Risk-Based Decision Making	Prioritizes action based on mission risk, collateral impact, and threat posture.	Advanced → Expert
Rules of Engagement (RoE) Awareness	Applies legal, policy, and strategic frameworks during cyber operations.	Expert

Technical Competencies

Competency	Description	Relevant Roles	Proficiency Levels
Offensive Cyber Operations (OCO)	Conducts exploitation, disruption, or destruction of adversary systems.	Cyber Operators, Red Teamers	Expert
Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO)	Detects, analyzes, and mitigates active threats in real time.	SOC Analysts, Blue Team, Incident Responders	Expert
Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI)	Collects, analyzes, and disseminates threat actor tactics, techniques, and procedures.	CTI Analysts, Fusion Cell Staff	Expert
Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering	Analyzes malicious code to determine capabilities and origin.	Malware Analysts, Technical Leads	Expert
Network Operations & Protocol Mastery	Understands and manipulates network traffic for defense or attack.	Network Warfare Operators, Red/Blue Teams	Expert
Digital Forensics	Collects and preserves evidence from compromised systems.	Forensic Analysts, DCO Teams	Applied → Adaptive
Cyber Tools Development	Designs custom exploits, payloads, and cyber weapons.	Exploit Developers, OCO Engineers	Advanced → Expert
Zero-Day Analysis & Research	Identifies and weaponizes undisclosed vulnerabilities.	Research Teams, OCO Units	Advanced → Expert

Strategic and Planning Competencies

Competency	Description	Relevant Roles	Proficiency Levels
Cyber Campaign Planning	Designs and synchronizes multi-phase, multi-domain cyber operations.	Mission Planners, Command Staff	Advanced → Expert
Target Development	Identifies and prioritizes targets within the cyber battlespace.	Targeting Analysts, Cyber ISR Teams	Applied → Adaptive
Joint Operations Integration	Aligns cyber activities with kinetic and non-kinetic domains (air, land, sea, space).	Commanders, Joint Ops Planners	Advanced → Expert
Policy & Doctrine Literacy	Applies national/international cyber warfare doctrine and policies.	Strategic Advisors, Legal Counsel	Expert
Capability Assessment & Red Teaming	Evaluates cyber capabilities through simulation and testing.	Assessment Teams, Red Cell Staff	Applied → Adaptive

Operational Support Competencies

Competency	Description	Relevant Roles	Proficiency Levels
C2 Systems and Secure Comms	Maintains and defends command & control infrastructure.	Network Engineers, Signal Officers	Applied → Adaptive
Tactical Cyber Execution	Operates in forward-deployed or denied environments with limited resources.	Tactical Cyber Operators	Advanced
Logistics and Mission Sustainment	Supports long-term cyber operations including resourcing and access maintenance.	Cyber Logistics Planners	Applied → Adaptive
Red/Blue/Purple Teaming	Performs adversary emulation, detection testing, and joint simulations.	Cyber Warriors, Range Operators	Expert

Intelligence and Adversary Analysis Competencies

Competency	Description	Relevant Roles	Proficiency Levels
Adversary TTP Profiling	Tracks and models enemy cyber behavior and infrastructure.	CTI Analysts, Defense Planners	Expert
Attribution Analysis	Supports determination of adversary identity and intent.	Intelligence Officers, Cyber Strategists	Expert
Geopolitical Context Awareness	Understands how geopolitical events impact cyber conflict.	Policy Staff, Commanders	Applied → Adaptive

Emerging and Specialized Competencies

Competency	Description	Proficiency Levels
AI/ML in Cyber Warfare	Leverages or defends against AI-enabled cyber capabilities.	Expert
Quantum-Resistant Security	Prepares cryptographic systems for post-quantum threats.	Foundational → Applied
Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA)	Integrates cyber with electronic warfare and signals intelligence.	Expert
Operational Technology (OT) Targeting	Exploits or defends ICS/SCADA environments.	Expert
Psychological & Cognitive Warfare Support	Supports information ops using cyber vectors.	Expert