National Guard Bureau Chief Army Gen. Frank Grass said he wants to “buy in” to the cyber mission and stay “extremely close” to the Air Force’s and Army’s work in this domain. Addressing AFA’s 2013 Air and Space Conference in National Harbor, Md., on Sept. 18, Grass pointed out that the Air National Guard already has 12 squadrons involved in missions such as network warfare and information operations. Their support extends not just to the Air Force, but also US Cyber Command, he said. “Their civilian skills are hugely valuable,” said Grass.
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.
