As he says, at work he combines 2 passions: military service and the cyber sphere. Colonel Jarosław Wacko, Chief Specialist at the office of the Cyberspace defence Army, 1 of the winners of the "Polish Armed" prize by Buzzygana ‘23, has been curious in military but besides electronics since childhood. He graduated from an electronic technician and then studied at the WAT Cybernetics Department.
As a freshly baked officer, he went to the Military Police. He started with pedestrian patrols to become a programmer and network admin in the Communications and Computer discipline Department of the Main office of the Warsaw University of Technology after respective years. In the cybersecurity area, he became more active in 2010, and in 2017 he first took part in the "Locked Shields", the world's largest global cyber defence exercises organized by the Allied Cyber defence Improvement Centre in Estonia (NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence).
Two years later, Colonel Wacko was offered a transfer to the National Cyberspace safety Centre MON (later Command of the Cyberspace defence Army) and co-created there cybersecurity structures. “It was a large challenge, as head of the consequence Unit for Computer Incidents I built a squad from scratch, looked for people, trained them and learned a lot from myself. We started 24-hour shifts so that cyberspace in the military area would be monitored all the time – Colonel Wacko describes.
– The colonel was not only the leader of our team, but besides the leader of our squad – emphasizes 1 of the managers of the change at the DKWOC Supervisory Centre (or to stay anonymous due to the nature of the work). As he adds, an officer never says "please do it", but "we do it", at all phase you can get his opinion, consult and number on support. – Colonel Wacko is demanding, but above all towards himself and very active in the work – provides the manager of the change.
Colonel Wacko led the consequence Division on Computer Incidents for almost 5 years. “At the time we analysed, took action and coordinated the consequence to major cybersecurity incidents in the country,” says the officer. Now, as head of DKWOC, he is liable for supporting and coordinating command on issues of ongoing cyberspace safety management. He's, like he says, on the front line of the cyberfront.
"The war in Ukraine has one more time shown that information has become a fresh weapon, whose control must be 1 of the elements of military strategy. In the cyber sphere, the conflict has been going on for a long time, the services of our opponents are conducting attacks on military strategy users and organizations cooperating with the army. Their goal is to break security, get information or harm the network, and the threat is huge. This is simply a real and ruthless war to seize or destruct resources, as Colonel Wacko describes. He adds that we are dealing with a dangerous opponent. "We must be 1 step ahead of him all the time, so that, for example, he does not know erstwhile he is attacking the real system, and whenever he thinks so," the colonel says.
– Colonel Wacko is simply a world-class expert in his field, as confirmed by the next Natatian “Locked Shields” exercise, in which he participates as squad leader – says Kamil Goryń, IT cybersecurity consultant and lecturer at the University of Białystok, 1 of the members of the Polish squad on “Locked Shields”. Over 4,000 specialists from more than 40 NATO and partner countries participate in the exercises each year. The scripts reflect the real threats to cyberspace security, and the teams are tasked to defend the fictitious state against mass attacks on IT systems and critical infrastructure.
The teams consist not only of military experts, but mostly of the public, private and academic sectors. The Polish squad of about 250 has been in the top position for respective years. “Jarek is not only a specialist in cybersecurity, but besides a large organizer,” says Kamil Goryń. As he points out, the colonel is able to reconcile and organize a group of people, mostly individualists and introverts. This enabled him to build a squad composed of both civilians and military, who understand, like and accomplish common goals. – This is mostly due to his interpersonal skills. He is simply a real leader, not just a manager giving out tasks – Goryń says.
– If I were to describe the colonel in 1 sentence. Deke, that would be: effective in action. Whether he is building a team, which is 1 of the best in the “Locked Shields” exercise, or he is hunting an adversaries on the web – he emphasises Maj. Gen. Karol Molenda, Commander of WOC Component.
Colonel Wacko says it is easy to lead the Polish team, due to the fact that our full cybersecurity strategy is simply a force to be reckoned with. “We are 1 of the best in the world, in the cybersecurity ranking “The Cyber defence Index 2022/23” of the magazine “MIT Technology Review” Poland was placed before Japan and Switzerland, among others, as the sixth force in cybersecurity in the world”, said the colonel.
Despite his passion for the world, a cyber officer does not support the usage of the net in all situation. – I think that computer discipline is expected to make life easier, not complicate it. I am the enemy of computerization where he is only a gadget, so I relax best, sailing, piloting a paraglider or walking in the woods with children – he says. As he says, even though his work is demanding, the challenges change constantly, and the business telephone at 2:00 at night is nothing strange, the service gives him plenty of satisfaction. You don't work a day erstwhile you love what you do. I realize my dreams all day – Colonel Wacko assures.
