Organizing for the Future: Aligning U.S. Air Force Cyber Support with Mission Assurance.

摘要

While the U.S. Air Force focuses its attention on operationalizing cyberspace, it must not overlook the role of traditional communications support of air and space operations. Today, air and space wings also require cyberspace mission assurance: identifying mission essential functions, mapping cyberspace dependence, and mitigating risk in a connected environment. However, significant budgetary forces have shaped the base communications squadron in recent years, and the resulting unit, encumbered with a range of force support activities and possessing limited network oversight, is poorly postured to provide appropriate support for the operational community. In the coming years, demand for greater efficiency will inevitably lead to fewer personnel at the base level, despite a tremendous increase in network use. Meanwhile, the base communications mission remains largely unchanged, excepting internal structure shifts in the face of personnel reductions. From a personnel perspective, recent efforts to consolidate communications specialties under cyber operations and cyber maintenance, prove problematic: an analysis of these duties reveals close ties to other wing missions, indicating potential benefit from functional realignment. These budgetary pressures, scope of mission requirements, and recent career field changes converge to demand a review of the base communications squadrons organization.