Rick Kozak / Staff Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne announced the creation of the U.S. Air Force’s new cyberspace command on Thursday at the 6th annual C4ISR Journal Integration Conference in Arlington, Va.

The U.S. Air Force’s new cyberspace command will be created under the auspices of the 8th Air Force, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne announced Nov. 2 at the 6th annual C4ISR Journal Integration Conference in Arlington, Va.

The primary unit under the 8th for the cyberspace command will be the 67th Network Warfare Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Throughout 2007, Wynne said, it will be determined which units and assets will come under the cyberspace command. Overseeing that process with be Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, commander of the 8th Air Force headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Elder came up through the ranks as a B-52 pilot and is a former commandant of Air War College.

Wynne expects the 8th to develop a roadmap for the new command, with the goal of having the command funded and operational in 2009. Air Education and Training Command is looking at training and career progression changes the command will require

The 8th is already home to many units that could potentially come under the cyberspace command such the Air Intelligence Agency and unit responsible for monitoring the service’s computer networks.

The 8th will continue its role as home to the Air Force’s strategic bomber force, Wynne added.

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