Enable breadcrumbs token at /includes/pageheader.html.twig

Brazilian Air Force Adding Cyber Center

Brazil, a crucial exercise partner in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, is growing its cyberspace capabilities.

“Brazil is a key partner in the SOUTHCOM AOR,” said U.S. Air Force Col. James Hamilton, the A6 and director of communications, 12th Air Force (AFSOUTH), who is working with countries such as Brazil to increase cybersecurity across militaries and nations.

The South American country participates in exercises such as Resolute Sentinel, Cyber Guardian and PANAMAX to boost cyber defenses. The nation has also worked to add cyber and space domain warfighting to the region’s exercises.

Col. Fernando Rodrigues De Sá, FAB, Brazilian Air Force, who is a fighter pilot with a doctorate in computer science, is currently the chief of information technology governance coordinator in the Brazilian Air Force’s Directorate of Information Technology. He spoke to industry and military leaders during AFCEA Alamo ACE’s last conference.

Within the Brazilian Air Force, Col. Rodrigues De Sá is working on information technology (IT) governance, the associated IT regulations for the service’s systems, and protecting the computing centers, flight simulators and software development. However, it is the standing up of the service’s cyber component that is taking most of his attention.

“We are activating our first center of cyber defense in the Brazilian Air Force, something we have been working on for several years,” the Brazilian cyber warrior said.

While the Brazilian Army’s Cyber Defense Command (known as the ComDCiber) has operated for several years, building the Air Force cyber component means overcoming shortages in cyber personnel and budgets for training and retention. “We invest in training, we have skilled people and unfortunately, we lose them to the market,” Col. Rodrigues De Sá noted.

And given that Brazil is a very large country, the cyber warriors will have to protect the various units across a large area. “It is also hard for us to protect all of that because we are going to have one cyber defense center to deal with the threats spread all around the country,” he explained. “We have some very skilled people working on cybersecurity to protect and detect threats in our networks, in our infrastructure and also in our IT systems, but the [distance] is a challenge for us.”

After the activation of the cyber defense center, the service will develop a resilience plan to maintain cybersecurity. “It’s a matter of a mindset change, and we have to work hard on this awareness of change of culture and mindset,” the Brazilian colonel shared.

From the U.S. military and industry, the Brazilian Air Force will continue to look for information on industry capabilities and continued participation in exercises with its longtime U.S. partners, the colonel stated.

As part of AFSOUTH’s continuing partnership with Brazil, U.S. leaders will conduct subject matter expert exchanges with the Louisiana Air National Guard’s cyber arm and Brazil in 2024, Col. Hamilton said.