Air Force names six bases as potential cyber headquarters
The 24th Air Force, slated to take the role originally assigned to the provisional Air Force Cyber Command, will have its official home designated by June.
The Air Force announced a list of six bases from which it will choose the headquarters for the new 24th Air Force, which will handle the service’s cyber mission.
The candidates include: Barksdale Air Force Base, La.; Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Langley Air Force Base, Va.; Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.; Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.; and Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
The Air Force had originally planned to stand up a separate Cyber Command that had been seen as a possible lead for the entire military and civilian push to control cyberspace. A provisional command was launched in October 2007, with the completed organization expected to start operations a year later.
The plans for the command were put on hold due to a review of Air Force programs, prompted by the mishandling of nuclear weapons and slow progress toward increasing the use of unmanned aircraft. The review ultimately led to the resignations of Chief of Staff Michael Moseley and Secretary Michael Wynne.
The 24th Air Force is now slated to provide cyberwarfare capabilities as part of the Air Force Space Command.
The Air Force said it intends to make a final decision on which base will host the new organization by the end of June.