TBF, Cecil is like the gold standard for shadowy government operation heads - he’s not corrupt, he listens to experts, he has no hidden agenda besides a full commitment to the Earth’s defense from near-constant alien invasion, and the worst thing he does is not fully trust Mark (with pretty good reason, let’s not lie) and rehabilitate villains by forcing them to use their abilities to protect the Earth. That and teleporter abuse, but he’s earned that.

Don’t forget the paroled convict

You’re not - it’s pretty explicitly the point. The technological arms race has gotten so advanced that everyone has devolved into fighting with knives.