The 561st Network Operations Squadron at Peterson AFB, Colo., officially opened the doors to its new operations center this week after a $4.5 million renovation. The new operations center, dubbed the “bullpen,” is designed like a Wall Street trading floor, complete with a 70-foot data wall that “enables the squadron to have direct visual contact to other squadrons with similar missions,” according to an April 30 release. Lt. Col. Roy Rockwell, 561st NOS commander, said the new design streamlines communication and simplifies the decision-making process. “A professional organization needs a professional environment to work in,” said Rockwell. “This ceremony is a small example of how far cyberspace operations have come. We have made large steps in a short amount of time.” When the squadron first began operations in 2007, there were just 10 military members conducting cyberspace operations. Today, there are more than 560 Active Duty, Reserve, civilian, and contractors working 24 hours a day, states the release. The center is expected to advance overall command and control of USAF network communications by “providing enhanced situational awareness and command and control capabilities” and increasing “cyber crew commander and cyber operations controller influence of situations,” states the release.
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