Deputy Defense Secretary Bill Lynn unveiled the Pentagon’s first-ever cyberspace strategy Thursday during an event on the National Defense University campus in Washington, D.C. “The cyber environment we face is dynamic. As such, our strategy must be dynamic as well. So while today is an important milestone, it is only one part of the department’s efforts to learn and adjust through time,” said Lynn. Although it’s not yet clear exactly what role cyber will play in 21st century warfare, he said it’s clear that “bits and bytes can be as threatening as bullets and bombs.” The new strategy, which comes on the heels of the White House’s own cyberspace policy, has five pillars: treating cyberspace as an operational domain; employing new concepts to protect DOD networks; partnering with other US agencies; building relationships with allies, and leveraging an exceptional cyber workforce and rapid technological innovation. (Cyberspace strategy full document; caution, large-sized file.)
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
