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New cyber command to comprise four wings

While Air Force officials continue to mull over where to base Cyber Command, the service has announced how it wants to set it up.

The command, the Air Force says, will comprise four wings and 65 squadrons, including Reserve and Air National Guard units, all organized under the 24th Air Force.

Two of the four wings will be brand new, according to the March 14 release announcing the new command structure. The 450th Electronic Warfare Wing will protect against electronic attacks, and the 689th Cyberspace Wing will execute communication and information functions and deployable communications operations.

Like the command, the two new wings will operate out of temporary locations until the service completes the basing process. The 450th will operate out of Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and the 689th at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

One of the electronic warfare wing’s primary duties will be to provide operational input into missions flown by EA-6B Prowlers and EC-130J Commando Solos.

The Prowler jams hostile radar and communications, often providing avenues of approach for bomber or fighter jets through enemy air defense systems. The Commando Solo helps protect ground forces from electronic attacks against technological assets such as their Global Positioning System devices.

Once AFCyber stands up Oct. 1, the Air Force Communications Agency at Scott Air Force Base and the Global Cyberspace Innovation Center at Langley Air Force Base, Va., will deactivate as the 689th takes over the functions performed by the two agencies, according to officials.

Two other cyber wings will join the 450th and 689th: the re-designated 688th Information Operations Wing, which will run the Air Force Information Operations Center at Lackland, and the 67th Network Warfare Wing, also based at Lackland.

“We believe the construct we arrived at is the most effective way to ensure the Air Force can do its part in helping the combatant commanders dominate the cyberspace domain with integrated Air Force capabilities,” AFCyber provisional commander Maj. Gen. William Lord said.

Many of Cyber Command’s new wings, groups and squadrons will transfer from their current major commands to AFCyber, including the 67th Network Warfare Wing and the Information Operations Center from Air Combat Command, which will affect about 8,000 airmen. Other commands losing units include Air Force Materiel Command, Air Mobility Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Space Command and the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency.

Other transferring active-duty units — and their associated resources/subordinate units — include:

* 38th Engineering and Installation Group.

* Scope Command High Frequency Global Communications System lead command.

* 81st Training Support Squadron, Qualification-Training Flight mission.

* 3rd Combat Communications Group.

* 5th Combat Communications Group.

* 85th Engineering and Installation Squadron.

* 53rd Electronic Warfare Group.

* 55th Electronic Combat Group.

* 388th Electronic Combat Squadron.

* 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron.

* Hammer Adaptive Communications Element of the 82nd Communications Support Squadron.

* 4th Space Control Squadron.

* 76th Space Control Squadron.

* 16th Space Control Squadron.