The “organizational piece is coming together from a training standpoint” for the Air Force’s new Cyber Command, says Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, head of 8th Air Force and designated lead on creating an Air Force Cyber Command. Elder told defense reporters in Washington Wednesday morning that the Air Force plans to establish a cyberspace career path for airmen with technical backgrounds such as electrical engineering or computer science, but they have yet to determine the length and kind of training needed. Right now, they’re working with Air Education Training Command to figure out those requirements. “We’re looking to set up a professional cadre of cyber operators—enlisted and officer,” Elder said. “Hopefully 25 years from now … if you go to talk to the cyber three-star, he or she will come into the Air Force … having done this for the entire period of time.”
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
