8th AF to Form New Cyber Command:

Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said Thursday that historical 8th Air Force of World War II bombing fame would lead the formation of a new Cyberspace Command—a new major command on a par with Air Combat Command and Air Force Space Command that will preserve “freedom of access and commerce” in cyberspace. Service leaders have been working toward this step for more than a year, explained Wynne in remarks before a Washington technology conference. Wynne called the 67th Network Warfare Wing, under 8th Air Force, “the center of mass for this startup activity.” In 2000, the Air Force added information operations to the mission of 8th Air Force, making it a dual function component under US Strategic Command, as provider of both IO and bomber forces. He added that 8th Air Force would retain its bomber mission.

The Game Plan, So Far:

The new Air Force Cyberspace Command will “redefine airpower for the 21st century” said Lani Kass, director of the Air Force’s cyberspace task force. The new command will focus on offense, defense, and infrastructure of cyberspace and many aspects of...

CSAR-X Decision Near:

The Pentagon’s Defense Acquisition Board met Oct. 31 to consider the merits of the Air Force’s plan to purchase new combat search and rescue helicopters, known as the CSAR-X program. News reports say the Pentagon will reveal the DAB decision...

The Straight Skinny:

The Air Force has provided additional information about its extraordinary $50 billion supplemental request. Air Force spokesperson Maj. Morshe Araujo, says that the service submitted to OSD in August a Fiscal 2007 supplemental request for $17.4 billion. After that, as...

The Hours Just Keep on Climbing:

The half of the 55th Electronic Combat Group flying EC-130H Compass Call aircraft for operations in Afghanistan has just passed 5,000 combat hours. The airmen of the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron, deployed from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., have flown more...

Four-Year Assignments?:

In the current cost-cutting climate, USAF officials are looking closely at changing the standard three-year duty stints for officers to four-year permanent change of station (PCS) assignments. Lt. Gen. Roger Brady, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, says...

Paying Up:

The Air Force has agreed to pay some $519,000 to the Little Egg Harbor Intermediate School to make repairs to damage it sustained when the pilot of an Air National Guard F-16 mistakenly fired 27 training rounds into the building...

Two EOD Airmen Get Bronzes:

The Air Force has awarded Bronze Medals to two explosive ordnance disposal airmen assigned to the Air Mobility Warfare Center, Ft. Dix, N.J. TSgt. Vandiver Hood and SSgt. Michael Tesch received the medals for their work while deployed to Iraq....

Training Japan’s First Boomers:

Airmen at Travis AFB, Calif., have the distinction of having trained the first three Japan Air Self Defense Force boom operators. The three Japanese airmen, who had served as loadmasters, received four months of training at Travis. First, they attended...

Dover Tests New Anti-Bird Strike Radar:

Smack in the middle of a major East Coast avian migration route, Dover AFB, Del., is a choice spot for testing a new, advanced technology radar in the ongoing effort to forestall bird strikes on aircraft. Air Force Safety Center’s...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

Nov. 1, 2006 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 15 10 25 CAS/Armed Recon 35 36 71 Airlift 150 150 Air refueling 31 31 Total 50 46 181 277 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance