National Cyber Force announces new Commander

Air Vice-Marshal Tim Neal-Hopes OBE has been appointed as the second Commander of the National Cyber Force (NCF).

He replaces the NCF’s first Commander, James Babbage, who has taken up post as Director General Threats (Economic and Organised Crime) at the National Crime Agency.

Established in 2020, the NCF is a partnership between defence and intelligence which carries out cyber operations daily to protect against threats to the UK, further the UK’s foreign policy, support military operations, and prevent serious crime.

Most recently, Tim served as Director Cyber, Intelligence and Information Integration within UK Strategic Command and will be the first member of the Armed Forces to hold the position.

On his new appointment, he said:

"The last two decades of my life have been invested in supporting the evolution of the UK’s cyber power, and so I am immensely proud to take on the role of Commander. The NCF has a clear vision to be a vital tool of the UK’s statecraft, delivering increasing impact for the nation and exemplifying globally the responsible projection of cyber power.

"Nearly four years on from its creation, NCF’s impact has been felt across all facets of the UK’s national security, from supporting and protecting military operations, to countering state threats and disrupting criminal activity.

"It is a privilege to be working with such diverse and talented people. NCF’s blend of skills and expertise in its workforce is an absolute strength and unlike anywhere else because of its unique defence and intelligence partnership. I am committed to realising the vision for the NCF and building a force that truly represents the nation we serve."

On November 2, Counter Terror Business will host the webinar Cyber Security: Mitigating the Threat to the Public Sector -  which will examine where the threats to public services are coming from and the latest strategies to keep ahead of the cybercriminals. Hosted by Philip Ingram MBE, registration is now open and free of charge to qualifying individuals.