ARLINGTON, Va. -- Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne announced today that the 8th Air Force is now the service' s lead command for cyberspace.
The command's new responsibility is a potential step to becoming an Air Force major command, Wynne said.
The "Mighty Eighth" was made famous during the Combined Bomber Offensive over Europe in World War II. "The mission of bombers now within the 8th Air Force will remain," he said.
The move accompanies the service's ever-increasing reliance on operations within the cyberspace domain, Wynne explained.
"The capital cost of entry to the cyberspace domain is low. The threat is, that a foe can mass forces to weaken the network that supports our operations," he said.
Wynne noted that the traditional principles of war as taught to young officers apply fully in cyberspace, and he stressed that cyberspace operations can include far more than computer network attack and defense. He cited the use of improvised explosive devices in Iraq, terrorist use of Global Positioning Satellites and satellite communications, Internet financial transactions by adversaries, radar and navigational jamming, and attacking American servers as just a few examples of operations that involve the cyberspace domain.
"This new way of war is data-dependent. We need to protect our data while detecting adversary data and then deny, disrupt, dissuade or destroy the source of that data or transmission as appropriate," he said.
Led by Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, 8th Air Force will develop the cyberspace force by reaching across all Air Force commands to draw the right people and capabilities. The cornerstone of the cyberspace command will be the leading-edge capabilities already resident in 8th AF to include command and control, electronic warfare, net warfare, and surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
Wynne called the move "good stewardship" and said it was necessary to ensure the cyberspace domain receives the emphasis required. The 8th Air Force will be responsible for training, organizing and equipping the service for cyberspace operations and managing career planning to grow cyberspace professionals from among the active duty, guard, reserve, and civilian ranks.
"There will be careers and a strong future for the Airmen whose work is in the cyberspace domain. Air Force military and civilian experts are working now forming the career and school paths that will ensure a full career with full opportunities for advancement to the highest ranks of the Air Force," he said.
In December 2005, the Air Force mission statement was amended to include cyberspace as an operational domain along with air and space. The service stood up the Cyberspace Task Force in January, led by military strategist Dr. Lani Kass. The task force, composed of Airmen from across the Air Force, has spent the past ten months gathering data and exploring how the service operate effectively in cyberspace.
Recently Air Force leaders tasked the commanders of Air Combat Command and Air Force Space Command to submit a proposal for establishing an operational command for cyberspace.