Cyber unit supports Haiti relief

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Jonathan M. Wong
  • 561st Network Operations Squadron
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Airmen from the 561st Network Operations Squadron provided network support to more than 400 sorties delivering humanitarian aid  to Haiti since Jan. 13.

The 561st NOS, located at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., a sub-organization to the 67th Network Warfare Wing located here, is one of two Air Force integrated network operations and security centers.

The squadron delivers combat support and guarantees command and control, global network connectivity, and information assurance for Air Force Network Operations and Joint Task Force-Global Network Operations.

"The Airmen of the 561st NOS are working tirelessly behind the scenes to support Operation Unified Response by integrating the mission critical Department of Defense networks and partnering agencies supporting earthquake victims in Haiti," said Lt. Col. Albert Yates, the 561st NOS commander.

Following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake Jan. 12, 561st NOS Airmen limited the number of network service interruptions that could disrupt Air Mobility Command Airmen's ability to conduct operations. These interruptions, normally scheduled for system upgrades and maintenance, were minimized in order to provide effective precision engagement to the relief effort.

The 561st NOS Airmen are responsible for defending AMC's portion of the Air Force network against cyber intrusions, increased defensive measures to allow air mobility forces the ability to operate their systems without the threat of cyber attack during this high operations period. This helped enable the C-17 Globemaster III that flew out of Dover AFB, Del., and Scott AFB, Ill.

561st NOS Airmen also linked the U.S. Customs and Border Protection units in Haiti to the Air Force network to allow more rapid evacuation and processing of earthquake victims, along with easing the ability to funnel casualty reports to the proper agencies stateside.