by Maj. Bill Woolf
57th Adversary Tactics Support Squadron
3/29/2007 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNEWS) -- Officials from the 57th Information Aggressor Squadron hosted the first-ever Information Operations Threat Analysis Working Group at the Threat Training Facility at Nellis March 27 to 29.
This event brought together experts from 31 U.S. intelligence, research and development, and operational organizations to identify and characterize current and emerging threats.
"Every time you turn on your computer, you enter the cyber battlefield and become a potential target for hackers, terrorists and nation-states trying to obtain any information they can," said Lt. Col. Lisa Onaga, 57th ATG deputy commander. "Although you may not 'see' them, our adversaries are out there, constantly employing sophisticated techniques to gain access to our systems and extract data."
The 57th IAS is one of 11 squadrons assigned to the 57th Adversary Tactics Group. The group's mission is to replicate adversary air, surface-to-air, space and cyberspace threats, and train friendly forces to defeat them during major exercises like Red Flag and aggressor road shows. The 57th IAS staff members will use the information produced by the working group to improve their replication capabilities and educate Airmen on information operations threats.
In addition to assessing adversary information operations capabilities and discussing ways to defeat them, working group participants will learn about the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center's emerging threat tactics team and its role in preparing Airmen for battle in the information domain.
Cross-talk among members of the information operations community is critical to countering this growing threat, said Colonel Onaga.
"Working groups like this one provide an ideal forum to exchange information and leverage efforts in and outside the Air Force to ensure our forces are prepared for the full spectrum of combat operations," she said.
