A new directive from Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James outlines how the branch will "fully [exploit] the man-made domain of cyberspace to execute, enhance and support Air Force core missions," including offensive and defensive operations.
Air Force Policy Directive 17-2 issued on April 12 brings together several older Air Force and Department of Defense policy documents and codifies the goals and responsibilities of various commands and leadership positions.
Download: Air Force Policy Directive 17-2
The document notes that information dominance requires a holistic approach to cyber that includes offensive and defensive tactics.
"Successful execution of cyberspace operations requires integrated and synchronized execution of offensive cyberspace operations (OCO), defensive cyberspace operations (DCO) and DoD Information Networks (DoDIN) operations (DoDIN Ops)," James wrote, also citing Joint Publication 3-12, "Cyberspace Operations."
Further, the document specifically states the Air Force will "develop cyberspace weapon systems," including offensive capabilities and operational tactics and methods to "'fight through' enemy offensive cyberspace operations."
The deputy chief of staff for operations will be charged with establishing the policies and procedures for that "synchronized execution" and will be responsible for overseeing coordination of the various components.
Among other responsibility assignments, the policy also sets up Air Force Space Command as the "core function lead for cyberspace superiority," with central control of cyber mission force funding and deployment of cyber weapon systems.
Aaron Boyd is an awarding-winning journalist currently serving as editor of Federal Times — a Washington, D.C. institution covering federal workforce and contracting for more than 50 years — and Fifth Domain — a news and information hub focused on cybersecurity and cyberwar from a civilian, military and international perspective.
