Former Lieutenant General Jiro Hiroe Joins GMO Internet Group to Strengthen Cyber Defense with National Security Expertise

Former Lieutenant General Jiro Hiroe Joins GMO Internet Group to Strengthen Cyber Defense with National Security Expertise

As Head of the Group Cyber Defense Business Promotion Headquarters “6,” he will leverage national-level security knowledge to help realize a safe and secure Internet society

GMO Internet Group (Group Representative: Masatoshi Kumagai) welcomed former Lieutenant General (ret.) Jiro Hiroe—an authority in cybersecurity, communications, AI, and robotics and the former Head of the Ground Self-Defense Force Education and Training Research Headquarters—on Monday, November 17, 2025. He joins the Group as Head of the Group Cyber Defense Business Promotion Headquarters “6” (abbreviated as GMO‑6).

Hiroe has served at the highest rank in the Japan Ground Self‑Defense Force and has led the service’s communications and cyber domains for many years, earning recognition in domestic and international security circles. Under the “Internet Security by GMO” initiative, GMO Internet Group continues to promote efforts to realize a safe and secure Internet society. In his role as a core leader of the Group’s Internet security business, Hiroe will apply the national‑level security expertise he has developed to not only advise group companies but also formulate and drive strategy, contributing to strengthening cyber security across society.

This appointment is positioned as the eighth installment of the “Internet Security by GMO” series.

(Note) The “6” in the organization’s name is adopted from the functional organization code used by the Joint Staff Office, where information and communication systems, cyber defense, and the electromagnetic domain are designated as “J‑6.”

About Jiro Hiroe

Born November 2, 1966, in Nara Prefecture. Graduate of the National Defense Academy of Japan, Class 33.

Entered the Japan Ground Self‑Defense Force and built his career as a communications officer, holding central positions in the communications and cyber domain, including Director of the Command and Communications Systems Department at the Joint Staff Office, Commandant of the Ground Self‑Defense Force Communications School, and Head of the Education and Training Research Headquarters. He has worked to strengthen the resiliency of the Self‑Defense Forces’ information and communications networks.

During the Great East Japan Earthquake, he led communications restoration in affected areas and information coordination with U.S. forces, prompting a fundamental reexamination of disaster communications.

In 2020 he visited Ukraine to study its advanced cyber defense capabilities. Since then he has advocated the importance of cross‑domain operations and integrated employment of cyber warfare, establishing himself as a leading theorist in Japan’s cyber defense.

In 2025 he delivered keynote presentations at GMO Internet Group’s events, including the “GMO Cybersecurity Conference & Awards” (March 2025) and the “GMO AI & Robotics Conference & Awards” (September 2025), speaking on topics such as “The Realities of Cyber Warfare Seen in the Ukraine Conflict” and “Peaceful Applications of AI and Robotics.” He emphasized the importance of public‑private collaboration as a bridge between defense and commercial technology development.

In 2025 he joined GMO Internet Group and assumed the position of Head of the Group Cyber Defense Business Promotion Headquarters “6.”

Comments

Jiro Hiroe:
“The Internet today is infrastructure for nations and societies. While threats in cyberspace continue to evolve daily, our defensive capabilities must also advance. Together with the people of GMO Internet Group, I aim to realize ‘creative defense’ that leverages AI and robotics technologies and to help build an Internet society that everyone can use with confidence.”

Masatoshi Kumagai (Group Representative):
“We are truly pleased to welcome Hiroe, who has safeguarded Japan at the forefront of national security for many years, to the GMO Internet Group. His national‑level cyber defense expertise and strategic perspective will further strengthen our security business and significantly advance our goal of creating a future where everyone can use the Internet with peace of mind.”

References

GMO Cybersecurity Conference & Awards (2025): https://group.gmo/security/conference/2025/

GMO AI & Robotics Conference & Awards (2025): https://group.gmo/security/ai-robotics/conference/2025/

About “Internet Security by GMO”: https://group.gmo/security/

“Internet Security by GMO” is a cross‑group project launched in February 2025 under the catchphrase “A secure future for everyone.”