Air Force Cyber Command (Provisional)

Air Force Cyber Command (Provisional)
Air Force Cyber Command emblem Active N/A (In provisional status) Country United States of AmericaBranch United States Air ForceType Major CommandRole Administration Part of HQ United States Air Force Garrison/HQ Barksdale AFB, LouisianaNickname AFCYBER Commanders Current
commander Major General William T. Lord [2]

The Air Force Cyber Command (Provisional) (AFCYBER (P)) is the newest United States Air Force major command whose development was announced by the Secretary of the Air Force on November 2, 2006.[1]

Originally designated to stand up around Summer 2007, but pushed back to Mid-2008, AFCYBER will draw upon the personnel resources of the 67th Network Warfare Wing as well as other resources of the Eighth Air Force. It will be placed under the command of Major General William T. Lord. Secretary Wynne summarized the mission of the AFCYBER:[citation needed]

The aim is to develop a major command that stands alongside Air Force Space Command and Air Combat Command as the provider of forces that the President, combatant commanders and the American people can rely on for preserving the freedom of access and commerce, in air, space and now cyberspace.

1 Bases in contention for AFCYBER Headquarters
2 Organization
3 Lineage
4 Emblem
5 References
6 External links

Bases in contention for AFCYBER Headquarters

A decision on AFCYBER basing was due to be released on 29 February 2008, but has been delayed until October 2009. These are the list of Air Force bases in competition to host the new Cyber Command headquarters, listed alphabetically by state:

Maxwell AFB, Alabama
Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
Beale AFB, California
Peterson AFB, Colorado
Scott AFB, Illinois
Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts
Michigan - several Air National Guard bases
Keesler AFB, Mississippi
McGuire AFB, New Jersey
Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Offutt AFB, Nebraska
Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
Pennsylvania - several Air National Guard bases
Lackland AFB, Texas
Hill AFB, Utah
Langley AFB, Virginia

In May 2008, the Air Force informed the governors of the several states who are candidates to house the new command asking for specific information regarding existing conditions and infrastructure. The survey of sorts addresses the following issues:

If similar cyber activities such as intelligence and space/satellite operations already operate at the installation.
The detail of the high-speed network capabilities and capacity for growth (i.e. fiber or cable, secure communications, joint or other Department of Defense networks available, support/maintenance level).
Proximity to existing high-technology processes or centers.
If local universities or businesses support an existing cyber-related workforce.
The level of security available for the mission (i.e., local threat assessment favorable or low? Is encroachment an issue? Would it adversely affect beddown of a headquarters operation?).
Is there adequate, existing facilities with both secure and un-secure contiguous office space to accommodate both the AFCYBER headquarters and numbered Air Force staff.
Is there practical and economical accessibility to multiple routes of travel, including air transport (i.e. close to an airport, train, does it have its own runway, major interstates).
Is the area subject to recurring natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, extensive flooding, fires, blizzards, ice storms, or earthquakes (as indicated by governmentally declared emergencies in the past 10 years) and does the local area have a reasonable disaster preparedness plan in place.

The 18 governors who received letters are from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. [2]

Organization

Wings

Groups

26th Network Operations Group
38th Information Operations Group
39th Information Operations Group
67th Network Warfare Group

Info Ops

23d Information Operations Squadron - ?
33d Network Warfare Squadron - Lackland AFB, Texas
39th Information Operations Squadron - Hurlburt Field, Florida
91st Network Warfare Squadron - Lackland AFB, Texas
92d Information Operations Squadron -
262d Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron - McChord AFB, Washington
346th Test Squadron - Lackland AFB, Texas
453d Electronic Warfare Squadron - Lackland AFB, Texas

Electronic Attack

55th Electronic Combat Group - Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
- 41st Electronic Combat Squadron
- 42d Electronic Combat Squadron
- 43d Electronic Combat Squadron
4th Space Control Squadron - Holloman AFB, New Mexico
16th Space Control Squadron - Peterson AFB, Colorado
18th Intelligence Squadron - Vandenberg AFB, California
76th Space Control Squadron - Peterson AFB, Colorado
388th Electronic Combat Squadron - NAS Whidbey Island

Electronic Protection

53d Electronic Warfare Group - Eglin AFB, Florida
- 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron
- 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron
- 68th Electronic Warfare Squadron
- 453d Electronic Warfare Squadron - Lackland AFB, TX

Lineage

Upon formal activation, the Air Force Cyberspace Command (AFCYBER) will trace its lineage to the Strategic Air Command (SAC). Re-designation of SAC to AFCYBER resurrects a lineage that began in World War II and a heritage that embodies the Core Values of the Air Force - Integrity, Service before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.

Emblem

The Cyber Command's emblem is based on that of the Strategic Air Command

The Continental Air Forces activated in 1944 was re-designated as Strategic Air Command in 1946. The emblem used at the time was a modification of the "Hap Arnold" wings with the command's name on a tab as depicted.

In 1950, SAC decided to create its own unique emblem and conducted a command-wide competition with a $100 US Saving Bond as an incentive. More than 60 entries were submitted by both military and civilian personnel. The winning design was submitted by Staff Sgt. Robert T. Barnes of the 92nd Bombardment Wing at Fairchild AFB, Wash.

The Air Force approved the new designed Jan. 4, 1952. The approval letter described the significance of the new SAC emblem:

-- The blue sky is representative of Air Force operations; -- the arm and armor is a symbol of strength, power and loyalty and represents the science and art of employing far reaching advantages in securing the objectives of war; -- the olive branch, a symbol of peace; and -- the lighting flashes, symbolic of speed and power, are qualities underlying the mission of the Strategic Air Command.

Strategic Air Command was a decisive contributor to strategic deterrence and to winning the Cold War. In the same way, a fully capable Air Force Cyberspace Command will be no less a contributor to deterrence, achieving Air Force dominance in the cyberspace warfighting domain and facilitating Air Force command and control across the other domains of warfighting - air, sea, land and space.

The SAC emblem adopted in 1952, reflected the agility, power, determination and strength of a global effects command. This emblem again will be worn with pride, this time by cyber-warriors demonstrating the same traits as their predecessors.

The "recycling" of the SAC emblem has been a source of controversy as many veterans have expressed the opinion that the historic and storied SAC emblem should simply remain a piece of Air Force history, and that the new Cyber command should create its own emblem rather than try to piggy back on the work of the venerable cold war command.