There are conflicting reports concerning the future and the direction of an Air Force program designed to command and control cyberspace. Over the summer Air Force decided to halt operations towards the building of a Air Force Cyber Command – due mostly to the change in top brass, but also because AF was stepping on some Department of Defense toes when it decided to be the sole protector of cyberspace (much in the same way they “control” outer space).
Bob Brewin, of NextGov, reported yesterday that AF has “decided to pursue forming Cyber Command to defend Defense Department networks and to launch cyberattacks against foes after putting the project on hold in August,” as a result of some meetings in Colorado Springs, Colorado. But, the Air Force Times has drawn a decidedly different conclusion from those meetings. More on the flip side.
The Air Force Times wrote an article headlined: “Final word: One nuclear, but no cyber command.” They concluded, as did an AF press release, that “The Air Force will align its nuclear missions under a new nuclear command, and has canceled plans to stand up Cyber Command.”
They go on to say that a numbered Air Force, rather than a Command, would be the best course of action. Secretary Michael Donley said the decision was due to the complexities of cyberspace and the interdepartmental nature of protecting said cyberspace. “We will continue to do our part to increase Air Force cybercapabilities and institutionalize our cybermission,” he also mentioned. Which brings me to my last inquiry – If AF is not setting up a Command, but will still dedicate a number of service members and resources towards the development of cybercapabilities, just how much of role do they hope to play and what kind of turf war may be brewing?
Related: Washington Technology reported that the Air Force is looking for contractors to support their operations in cyberspace. “The Air Force tentatively plans a five-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract worth as much as $49.9 million,” according to Wash Tech. If you’d like to have a chance to win a multimillion dollar contract, visit my site, the Procurement Pub.
