There will be a growing gap in cyber needs going forward as the Defense Department struggles with the pressure from reduced budgets and sequestration, said Lt. Gen. Michael Basla, USAF’s chief information officer. Speaking to media Sept. 17 at AFA’s 2013 Air & Space Conference in National Harbor, Md., Basla said he sees the resources line staying “constant, at best,” but the requirements for cyberspace will go up, leaving a gap that will continue to increase, in respect to hardware, software, and people. “So we’ve got to deal with that gap,” he asserted. Basla added that while there may be a chance of a slight increase in resources, it would come at “the expense of other capabilities.”
The Air Force’s recruiting momentum is showing no signs of slowing in 2026, and leaders are already thinking about how they might get after even bigger goals in 2027 and beyond.


