Air Force Communications Agency to change name

  • Published
  • By Karen Petitt
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) --  The Air Force Communications Agency will be redesignated the Air Force Network Integration Center to more accurately reflect its role in cyberspace operations July 15 here.

The name change comes at a time when the Air Force continues to align its cyber forces under Air Force Space Command, located at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., which has the lead for organizing, training and equipping its people to perform the space and cyberspace mission.

The Air Force Communications Agency is just one of several organizations that falls under the command, which is led by Gen. C. Robert "Bob" Kehler. The 24th Air Force functions as the warfighting arm of cyber operations and is scheduled to stand up later this summer in San Antonio.

General Kehler met with members of AFCA in May to discuss the way ahead and spoke about lessons learned from previous integration efforts in his career.

"This is significant ... because it means you have a major-command advocate and authority figure to help you as we move toward the one Air Force, one network goal," he said. "We construct access, we operate the network, defend it, attack and exploit ... We're not just providing communications to aircraft crews. We're in a domain that is contested. When we log on to our computers now, we're in a combat zone. We're all defenders!"

He said the workforce will remain the communications experts and that they're going to be careful as they move forward in assigning cyberspace and communications roles. Air Force Communications Agency members were also assured that their legacy will be preserved and that he's looking at ways to ensure both the space and communications/cyber culture are represented as one team.

The Air Force Communications Agency serves as the Air Force's focal point for network integration through resourcing, assessments and validation, architectures and analysis and network engineering. They also build, test and sustain common network and communications systems.

"The Air Force continues to transform, and we are moving in the right direction," said Col. Carl Williamson, the departing commander of AFCA. "We have the right people with the right skills to continue to help the Air Force meet the demands of today's mission requirements. We will continue to be the center of excellence for the Air Force, and we will bring that expertise to this warfighting domain and continue finding solutions to our challenges."

Along with the re-designation ceremony will be a change in leadership as Colonel Williamson relinquishes command to Col. John Odey.