Cyber Airmen fight in America's newest battlefront

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson
  • 36th Operations Group Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFPN) --  A key component in the world's most lethal air and space force is the ability to protect sensitive communication and computer systems from the bad guys. A group of highly trained Airmen here take that fight head on every day in the far-reaching realm of cyberspace.

Senior Airman Jonathan Odum, deployed to the 36th Communications Squadron here from the Ohio Air National Guard's 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, said part of his job was to protect the base computer networks from internal and external threats.

"I keep the network and all its secrets safe from foreign and domestic enemies," he said.

Airman Odum explained if an Air Force computer network were compromised combat operations could be hampered.

"If enemy intruders hacked into our network, flying missions, flight plans and anything classified that has to do with our aircraft could be accessed," he said. "I protect all of that through my office."

In addition to securing sensitive information, these cyber Airmen know their job translates into combat power. They are powerful sentries in the virtual world that construct a overpowering defense for communications systems.

"If we were directly involved in hostile operations right now, I'd provide communications capability to all members involved in the combat mission and keep those communications safe and guarded," Airman Odum said.

These Airmen operating in this unique battle space play an important role in today's Air Force.

"We're the most advanced and technological Air Force in the world," said Col. Damian McCarthy, 36th Operations Group commander. "But no matter how stealthy our aircraft are we can still be detected if we have poor operations security due to letting the adversary exploit our network."

"Our newest battlefield in this continuing War on Terror is cyberspace and I'm certainly glad we have Airmen like these to keep our networks and sensitive systems safe." he said. 

These Airmen said protecting an expeditionary Air Force's computer systems is simply their part of the entire mission effort and, in the words of Airman Odum, he enjoys taking down cyber intruders while "working for the biggest and strongest air power in the whole world."

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