It has been a challenge to go at it alone, the colonel said, and they have had to take “it out of hide” to create their own organic cyber capabilities, but so far, the unit has been successful to the point where they can share their cost-effective capabilities and training with the broader Air Force.
For instance, recent efforts trained members of the 301st Communications Squadron from Fort Worth, Texas, on the cyber defense tactics used at the 601st AOC so the guardsmen whose 301st Fighter Wing will be host to the F-35 mission can grow their own cyber defense capabilities at their home unit.
“Our concept to continue providing cyber defense is a little more than 1/10 of the cost of the former Air Combat Command solution,” Col. Shoemo stated. “We are now expanding the scope of cyber defense that we provide here and are building a community of interest to proliferate our template so that other units can also stay in the cyber defense business.”
That effort also features an international component with Canadian Air Force cyber experts embedded within the 101st ACOMS. The company grade officers rotate through from Canada, sharing their perspectives and expertise with the unit.
In addition, the 101st ACOMS has been hosting an annual cyber defense conference each spring to help other units grow their expertise. In March 2023, they hosted 50 cyber defenders from units in the Air National Guard, the Air Force, the Space Force, the Coast Guard and the Federal Aviation Administration.
[Our initial success] “is showing that cyber defense at the wing level doesn’t require millions of dollars of investment if we unleash our airmen to solve problems and get out of their way,” the commander stressed.
This month, the unit will lend out several of its cyber experts to the National Guard’s State Partnership Program for a cyber exchange with the country of Barbados, in support of U.S. Southern Command’s and Air Forces South’s effort to grow cyber defenses across the Caribbean, Central and South America. (See related story.)
Meanwhile, as Tyndall continues to rebuild after the devastating impacts of the Category 5 Hurricane Michael in 2018, the Department of the Air Force’s digital transformation efforts are progressing, the colonel noted. As part of the effort, the 101st ACOMS will continue to provide digital technology upgrades, such as how the unit ingests its various cyber situational awareness feeds.
“This is one of Gen. Nordhaus’ priorities,” Col Shoemo shared, referring to Lt. Gen. Steven Nordhaus, commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, and commander, 1st Air Force (U.S. Air Forces Northern and U.S. Air Forces Space), Tyndall. “Once he came here, he gave us the permission to take risks, experiment with things and do proof of concepts, and so slowly but surely, we’re making strides.”
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