The Air Force is overhauling its cyber enterprise.
The service announced Sept. 18 a new information warfare focused organization called 16th Air Force that combines cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare and information operations.
The Air Force also recently rebranded its main communications arm essentially separating traditional IT functions from cyber warfare under the deputy chief of staff for ISR.
And on Sept. 13, the acting secretary of the Air Force signed the service’s cyber warfare flight plan, which officials say will serve as a blueprint for the next 10 years in the cyber domain.
Lt. Gen. VeraLinn Jamieson, the deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and cyber effects operations, said at the annual Air, Space, Cyber conference Sept. 18, that the new plan will help guide funding, resourcing, training and capabilities for Air Force cyber offices.
“We have to make sure that highway is there when we need it and we defend it from adversary activity. Then we have to be able to project power in and through cyber and to increase the survivability and lethality of our warfighting capabilities and our operators,” said Brig. Gen. Bradley Pyburn, the director of cyberspace operations and warfighter communications in the office of the deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and cyber effects operations. “Finally, being able to communicate in contested and degraded environments. That’s what we’re trying to achieve with the flight plan.”
While the service had previously force reorganized cyber staff
