Information Protection Workshop 2010 examines security issues, goals

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- With a focus on training, education and force development, professionals from major commands, wings, field operating agencies and direct reporting units from across the Air Force gathered here for the 2010 Worldwide Information Protection Workshop June 21 through 25.

Hosted by the Air Force Information Protection Directorate, the workshop facilitated open forum discussion related to topics such as enterprise protection risk management, information security and assurance, information operations, personnel security, foreign disclosure, nuclear security and professional development and certification.

According to Brent Younger, an IP policy manager, the Air Force is in year four of a five-year plan to transform the service's policies and practices to better protect our operations and people in the 21st century.

"There are still the traditional threats we face every day, but new threats are continuously emerging and the Air Force needs not just to react, but anticipate challenges to our security," Mr. Younger said.

Mr. Younger explained that IP policies and procedures are spread across many different occupations, requiring convergence of rules into a central location. For Airmen to achieve compliance with the many requirements of protecting information would typically require internalizing volumes of policy and procedures.

"Our goal is to make protecting information easier for the Airman," Mr. Younger said. "Information protection practices affect everything Airmen do. Societal trends that now deliver instant information and news calls for instilling a culture of sharing information, reducing redundancy and making Airmen more efficient as a result."

Mr. Younger said with added sharing comes the responsibility of understanding that information could be seen by anyone.

As the Air Force continues to transform, Airmen will have a single set of policies and processes rather than the current eight policy directives and more than 30 instructions, Mr. Younger said.

"These consolidated directions will be more easily and effectively trained and executed in the field, saving time while reducing risks to our missions," he said.

More robust training is also on the horizon and Air Force security education programs will remain a priority as the service's force level numbers shift to meet mission and budgetary requirements, said Robert Corsi, a deputy administrative assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force.

"Within the IP framework, we need to ensure we get the best people, and in turn provide them the best jobs, best training and education," Mr. Corsi said.

Overseeing Air Force officials' annual budget of $6 billion and 36,000 members, Mr. Corsi cited compelling numbers regarding the projected 14,000 uptick in civil service employee replacement of contractors within the next several years.

As a result, he emphasized the criticality of civilian force development in terms of framework, programs and tools.

Mr. Corsi said institutional progressively developed competencies at the strategic, organizational and tactical levels can help develop Airmen as leaders, and offer civilians in all occupations and at all levels comparable opportunities to lead.

"If we link education and training at the right time in development to meet leadership expectations with the understanding that development doesn't stop, we'll be best equipped to execute our responsibilities and the mission," Mr. Corsi said.

Mr. Corsi also noted successful programs such as the online interactive supervisor's course, civilian acculturating and leadership training, the new employee orientation course, civilian and Airmen development plans, and the civilian strategic leader program, which offers cross-function broadening by putting non-uniformed members in "command-similar" positions with heightened authority.

Ideas culled from the week's workshop will be discussed, reviewed and presented to senior leaders, officials from the office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force said.

"At the highest levels of the Air Force, leadership is attuned to the high operations tempo the service is experiencing," Mr. Younger said. "IP attempts to save Airmen time and effort when performing related tasks and this workshop brought together (major command) directors and wing IP chiefs to exchange ideas and accomplish their mission."

Mr. Younger said attendee feedback was positive.

"Participants have told us that this workshop helps them address the wide variety of complex security issues across the Air Force," he said.