Twenty-Fourth Air Force

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Twenty-Fourth Air Force – Air Forces Cyber
33d Network Warfare Squadron - JBSA.jpg
33d Network Warfare Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio
Active 18 August 2009 – present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Type Advanced Persistent Threat Unit
Role Cyber Operations
Part of 25px U.S. Cyber Command
Air Force Space Command.png Air Force Space Command
Garrison/HQ Lackland Air Force Base, Texas[1]
Nickname(s) AFCYBER
Decorations
  • US Air Force Outstanding Unit Award - Stremer.jpg
    Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Current
commander		 Maj Gen Burke E. "Ed" Wilson
Insignia
Emblem of Twenty-Fourth Air Force Twenty-Fourth Air Force - Emblem.png

The Twenty-Fourth Air Force (24 AF) - Air Forces Cyber (AFCYBER)[2] is a Numbered Air Force (NAF) with the United States Air Force (USAF). The USAF has consolidated its cyberspace combat and support forces into 24 AF.[3] The Twenty-Fourth Air Force is the Air Force component of U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM). The current commander is Major General Burke E. "Ed" Wilson, who assumed command July 2014.[4]

Formation

The Twenty-Fourth Air Force (24 AF) was originally intended to be a part of the now-defunct Air Force Cyber Command (AFCYBER); however, 24 AF became a component of the Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) on 18 August 2009.

In August 2008, then-new Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz placed a stop order suspending implementation of Air Force Cyber Command (AFCYBER), halting personnel assignments and activation of units. On 6 October 2008, following its annual Corona conference, the Air Force announced that the activation of AFCYBER would not take place, and that a Numbered Air Force, the Twenty-Fourth (24 AF), would gain the cyber warfare mission as part of Air Force Space Command (AFSPC).[5]

One key element under 24 AF is the Air Force's primary network warfare wing, the 67th Cyberspace Wing (67 CW), headquartered at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The new NAF also gained the following units:

Over 14,000 airmen make up the work force of 24 AF. Many of these are in place at other organizations, and Air Force units host cyber specialists from other organizations. Before the command was officially activated, the Air Force had announced six possible locations for the headquarters of 24 AF. The candidate locations were: Barksdale AFB, LA, Lackland AFB, TX, Langley AFB, VA, Offutt AFB, NE, Peterson AFB, CO and Scott AFB, IL.

On 15 May 2009, Air Force officials announced that Lackland is the preferred alternative, and the decision was confirmed on 12 August 2009.[6] The organization officially stood-up on 18 August 2009.[7][8] On 22 January 2010, 24 AF was certified by AFSPC/CC for its Initial Operational Capability (IOC).[9] Full Operational Capability (FOC) was declared on 1 October 2010.[10]

History

In 2014, the 24th provided the "Cyber Mission Force" for the Red Flag exercise for the first time.[11] During U.S. Strategic Command's Global Lightning 14, the 24th operated as a Joint Force Headquarters - Cyber in support of a combatant commander during a large joint exercise for the first time.[12]

Units

Commanders

  • Maj Gen Richard E. Webber, August 2009 - 29 April 2011, first commander[2][13]
  • Maj Gen Suzanne M. Vautrinot, 29 April 2011 - June 2013[2][14]
  • Maj Gen J. Kevin McLaughlin, June 2013 - July 2014[15]
  • Maj Gen Burke E. "Ed" Wilson, July 2014 – present[4]

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

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External links

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Frequently Asked Questions
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 USAF Bio for Burke E. "Ed" Wilson
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ San Antonio Express-News, "New Cyber Command Activated At Lackland AFB", 18 August 2009.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 24 AF link "Air Force Cyber Numbered Air Force achieves initital operational capability, 26 Jan 2010"
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ USAF Bio for Richard E. Webber
  14. ↑ USAF Bio for Suzanne M. "Zan" Vautrinot
  15. ↑ USAF Bio for James K. "Kevin" McLaughlin
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