Achieving Decision Making Superiority: USAF Cyber Weapons School

by Mark Mattison

The USAF is making a commitment to dominate the cyberspace domain in the same manner it dominates the air and space domains. This commitment comes during a time of accelerating growth in technology. If the current acceleration in technology continues, by the year 2025 defending U.S. cyberspace equity will require speed only available through automation of our cyber systems and decision making processes. To fly, fight and win in cyberspace the USAF should prepare for an OODA loop (observe, orient, decide, and act) measured in microseconds. Who will harness the capabilities of the cyber domain and integrate them with existing air and space capabilities? The infrastructure to protect our networks exists, but where is the cadre of cyber warriors (CW) to be educated? The accelerating pace of change in cyber technology brings new capabilities and increased availability for all players from nation states to small terrorist cells and criminals. This paper examines the need for the USAF to combine the specialized skills of CW with tactical genius and a warrior culture in a Cyber Weapons School (CWS).

56 pages, Paperback

First published November 29, 2012