83rd Communications Squadron redesignated for cyber warfare

  • Published
  • By David R. Hopper
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  The redesignation of the 83rd Network Operations Squadron Aug. 3 completed its transformation into the Air Force's newest high-speed squadron dedicated to meeting the service's cyberspace mission.

Formerly the 83rd Communications Squadron, the unit at Langley is assigned to 26th Network Operations Group, 67th Network Warfare Wing located at Lackland AFB, Texas. The squadron's responsibilities include intrusion/detection, active directory management, mail relay, firewall management, Web proxy services, gateway management and other operations associated with Air Force networks.

"Networks, today even more than television and print media, increasingly provide the face we show to those outside the United States who are curious about or hostile toward our national identity and intentions." Col. Mark S. Kross, 26th NOG commander. "Our Web pages and information services, our public affairs messages disseminated instantaneously, our consistent presentation of images and messages of confidence, competence and dedication are key to the credibility and acceptance of our deployed warfighters around the world. Increasingly, network defense is the national defense."

The conversion of the 83rd falls in line with the Air Force mission - to fly and fight in air, space and cyberspace. "Our ability to fight in ground, sea, air, and space depends on communications that could be attacked thru cyberspace," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne at the November 2006 Command, Control, Computers, Communication, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Integration Conference in Crystal City, Va.

The 83rd's roadmap to accomplishing its mission might be different than what most Airmen think of from a regular communications squadron.

"We're not a typical communications squadron," said 1st Lt. Joseph M. Hinson, 83rd NOS. "This name change reflects the fact that we're operating the Air Force's largest weapon system: the network. Just as a fighter pilot adjusts (his or her) controls and mitigates threats to put bombs on target, we're adjusting settings and defending against intrusions to connect intelligence folks with Predator footage, link units and missions via email and Web applications, etc."

The responsibilities of the 83rd are important because adversaries " ... can not only use cyberspace in new asymmetrical ways, but can actually make it fit their needs," said Dr. Lani Kass, special assistant to the chief of staff of the Air Force and director of the Air Force Cyberspace Task Force. "Cyberspace's edge for an enemy is they can strike from a distance and at lightning speed - at the stroke of a keyboard," she said.