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AFSPC Vice Commander: AFNIC is critical in all that we do

  • Published
  • By Katherine Kebisek
  • Air Force Network Integration Center
Scott Air Force Base, Ill. --  Effectiveness, change and the role of cyber in Air Force operations were among the topics discussed by the Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command during an all hands call at Scott May 17.

The all hands call was part of a visit to the Air Force Network Integration Center, during which Lt. Gen. Michael Basla spent the day touring the facility, meeting with Airmen and witnessing first-hand the center's critical role in the Air Force's cyberspace mission.

He began by discussing some of the changes happening within the Air Force with regard to personnel, budget and efficiency efforts. He acknowledged the stress many are experiencing as they are asked to do more with less, and asked for each person to be flexible and bring forward their ideas on how the Air Force can be more effective.

"I don't like the word 'efficiency' because efficiency, I think, is just a cloak word for reductions or cuts ... I'm more interested in effectiveness," General Basla said. "Effectiveness is doing what needs to be done in the best way possible to deliver the greatest capabilities that we can for the dollars."

He noted a recent example of "thinking outside the box" when he spoke about AFNIC's Information Assurance Assessment and Assistance Program (IAAP) responsibilities. IAAP provides enterprise-wide oversight of the Air Force's IA posture through regular, independent assessments of wing-level IA programs. The program was one of 10 services that recently transitioned from the major commands to AFNIC as part of the Enterprise Cyber Workload. As part of the transition, a manpower study concluded the center needed more than 300 people to effectively manage the workload; it received less than half that number.

IAAP was one area where AFNIC adapted to overcome this deficiency. Center officials made adjustments to the way the IAAP is managed, including regionalizing inspections rather than through a "hub and spoke" schedule, and adjusting the review period from every two years to every three years.

"By just thinking outside the box we were able to meet the mission needs within the resources that we have--that's being effective," the general said. "And that's what I challenge all of you to do."

He went on to discuss the study in progress to evaluate AFNIC's mission set and responsibilities and the importance of ensuring resources are being used as effectively as possible to deliver cyberspace capabilities to the Air Force.

"[You] folks are doing wonderful things; but we need this team to take a look and make sure [you're] doing absolutely the right things," he said. "You need to help us make sure that the resources we have in AFNIC are applied to the absolutely most effective things that we can provide the joint warfighter."

General Basla also discussed the critical importance of cyberspace in Air Force operations--today and in the future. He said today cyberspace not only enables capabilities in every AF mission but can provide unequivocal effects on the battlespace, whether by disabling an improvised explosive device from miles away or protecting the launch of a space shuttle.

"There are all these great things that you are involved with," he said. "The warriors in this room have taken the world that we live in so far forward ... and [you] are going to take it to the next level."

He specifically noted AFNIC's work in the development of the Single Integrated Network Environment, which will allow for a seamless flow of information among what are now separate air, space and terrestrial networks.

"Tomorrow we really will have a seamless terrestrial, air and space enterprise ... you're in the groundbreaking end of that capability," he said. "We'll make our adversaries' threats against us very complicated. We'll make it so that they don't know where to attack us because we don't need to depend on just one of those layers, we can use all of them and be flexible enough to move from here to there."

Through everything, he stressed the importance of resiliency and taking care of oneself and each other.

"It's very important that you build a resilient force in our military, civilians and contractors," he said. "We want to make sure that your whole life is in balance so that the challenges we are giving you in your office don't overwhelm you."

During the question and answer session, one of the first topics the general addressed was the Air Force Network migrations, a consolidation of all existing MAJCOM-centric and "stand alone" networks, email and directory services into a single, centrally managed system within the Air Force commanded and controlled by 24th Air Force. AFNIC is leading the consolidation effort, which General Basla described several times as the "number one cyberspace initiative in AFSPC."

He also discussed roles and responsibilities within the AF cyberspace mission, as well as challenges within the cyberspace arena. He encouraged that as the cyber mission and force structure continue to evolve, people continually look for ways to leverage fewer resources to deliver greater capabilities.

Despite how the mission or resources may evolve, AFNIC remains a focal point in the cyberspace mission. "AFNIC is critical in all that we do," he said. "This really is a new way of warfighting, and you folks are at the center of delivering great capabilities to our nation. Thank you so much for what you do for our nation, for our Air Force and for Air Force Space Command."