JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) --  

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall visited Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), the Air Force’s premier information warfare Numbered Air Force, Oct. 30-31.

During the two-day visit, Kendall received mission briefings on Sixteenth Air Force, 616th Operations Center, the 67th and 688th Cyberspace Wing, and saw how each organization integrates capabilities to counter adversaries in the information environment.

The DAF senior leader also held an hour-long all-call to address questions and give an update about the elevation of AFCYBER to become a standalone service component command at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s Pfingston Reception Center.

“We are in a Great Power Competition and we must treat it very seriously. I do not want to live in a world where we back down. If we don’t prepare ourselves and demonstrate that we’re here to fight, and if we do fight, we’re here to win.” -Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall

Last February, as part of the 24-key decisions for reoptimizing for GPC, Kendall announced AFCYBER’s elevation, reflecting the importance of the cyber mission to the Joint Force and across the Department of the Air Force.

However, elevating cyber also means reorganizing Sixteenth Air Force which is comprised of cyber, electromagnetic spectrum operations, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, information operations, weather as well as the service’s cryptologic component to the National Security Agency.

“We’re elevating our cyber forces and there are a lot of intertwined capabilities where we and [National Security Agency] particularly work together,” Kendall said. “At the end of the day what drives the decision is going to be what’s going to make us more competitive, what’s going to put us in a better position to compete with China, not just in near term, but over long-term strategic competition.”

During Kendall’s visit, Lt. Gen. Thomas Hensley, Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) commander, highlighted the importance of Sixteenth Air Force readiness during a time of rising threats and re-optimization for GPC.

Hensley, who took command in August, currently leads the information warfare organization that supports the air components by layering in those capabilities with their operations, activities and investments.

“Secretary Kendall has the responsibility of overseeing the Department of the Air Force, as well as the Space Force and I think we’re all tracking his top three priorities: China, China, China,” Hensley said.

“Looking at the current strategic environment, and looking at the future strategic environment,” Hensley added, “he has a very aggressive goal based on his vision of reoptimizing the entire Air Force for Great Power Competition.”

Prior to departing, Kendall recognized and coined Airmen for their outstanding contributions.