{"id":28387,"date":"2019-09-19T00:30:18","date_gmt":"2019-09-19T00:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/09\/19\/air-force-creates-new-information-warfare-organization-revamps-cyber-command-teams\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:08:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:08:46","slug":"air-force-creates-new-information-warfare-organization-revamps-cyber-command-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/afa-air-space\/2019\/09\/19\/air-force-creates-new-information-warfare-organization-revamps-cyber-command-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force creates new information warfare organization, revamps Cyber Command teams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Air Force announced Sept. 18 it will officially create a new information warfare command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the project has been in the works for several months<\/a>, Gen. James Holmes, commander of Air Combat Command, told reporters at the annual Air, Space, Cyber Conference that the decision has been finalized and Maj. Gen. Timothy Haugh has been tapped to lead the new organization, pending Senate confirmation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haugh was nominated for his third star Sept. 18 and was tapped to lead the new organization, which combines 24th Air Force or Air Forces Cyber and 25th Air Force. The latter is responsible for global intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haugh, who took command of 25th Air Force<\/a> less than three weeks ago, most recently led the Cyber National Mission Force at U.S. Cyber Command, which defends the nation against malicious cyberattacks abroad. He also co-led Cyber Command\u2019s Russia Small Group, which helped thwart potential election interference in the 2018 mid-term elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTim brings unique experience to us as both an intel professional and then he\u2019s been working for Gen. [Paul] Nakasone as one of his task force commanders in USCYBERCOM,” Holmes said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new command will be known as 16th Air Force and provide cyber, electromagnetic spectrum operations, ISR and information operations to commanders. It will also have a director that oversees an operations center. It will activate upon Haugh\u2019s confirmation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Holmes said this combination will essentially revamp the offensive cyber teams the Air Force presents to U.S. Cyber Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCyber teams are dependent on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,\u201d Holmes said. \u201cWe think we can present more robust teams [to Cyber Command] with better intelligence support behind them and present some information ops options, which we have some game at already, but to improve that and be able to offer that to a larger scale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air Force Cyber was already made up of personnel from 24th, who were the cyber personnel, and 25th, which provided the intel personnel, but Holmes indicated this integration will provide combatant commanders teams with a greater cyber capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The majority of these Air Force cyber teams support European Command, Transportation Command and Strategic Command, but a few teams work under the other services that support and conduct cyber operations in the other geographic commands.<\/p>\n\n\n\t