As the Navy's top intelligence and information warfare officer calls for increased attention and money for cyber priorities, he's also fighting more personal battles amid a Defense Department corruption investigation.

Cyber might be the buzzword of the moment, but that doesn't mean it's getting the funding it needs or being taken as seriously as, for example, nuclear concerns, according to Vice Adm. Ted Branch, deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare and director of naval intelligence.

See more from West 2016.

"It took us a long time to get where we are in the nuclear world [but] it was recognized from the get-go that … while the chances of something bad happening were low, the consequences of something bad happening were unacceptable. We haven't quite gotten there yet in cyber even though there has been so much attention," Branch said Feb. 18 at West 2016 in San Diego, California. "It is hugely difficult to measure objectively what you get for your next cybersecurity dollar. So until we can get our arms around that in some fashion or some kind of objective metrics about how do we mitigate risk … it's hard to justify all the expenses that we really need."

But Branch is juggling priorities in information warfare as he's preventing from carrying out the duties his title reflects. With his security clearance suspended as DoD authorities investigate the sweeping Fat Leonard scandal that involved briberies between Pentagon officials and Glenn Marine Group, a defense contractor, he can't access classified information.

The multi-hatted Branch is charged with being the Navy's information warfare community leader, director of cyber security and director of Navy intelligence, he pointed out. But he insists the Navy isn't suffering because of his lack of access to critical data.

"In that last one, I haven't had a lot of work in the last two years from a practical day-to-day standpoint. Organizationally, I still have input there … I have two [Senior Executive Service] level 3 deputies that run that on a day to day basis," in addition to the Office of Naval Intelligence, Branch said. However, "naval intelligence is OK. The whole situation is less than optimal and frustrating, but we are where we are. And we will persevere. And I will lead in this capacity until somebody tells me to go home."

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