688th Cyberspace Wing Aligns with Defense Department Priorities

The chapter welcomed Col. Scott O'Malley, USAF, vice commander, 688th Cyberspace Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, as a guest speaker for the March luncheon. Col. O'Malley began by stating, "The reality is that I only know what is new. My first day on the job was the first day the 688th made the transition from the old ways to the new terrain and infrastructure of the current 688th." In 2013, through a unified command plan, the Department of Defense gave all three services three mission sets. The 688th mission set involves securing, operating and defending the Department of Defense infrastructure. The 688th sees the scope from an operator's tactical view going towards the future of cyber for the Air Force (AF) and ensures it is done in a secured environment. The restructuring of the 688th brought together two additional groups into the command, the 38th Cyber Engineering and Installation Group and the Combat Communications Group under alignment. This brings a cradle-to-grave application of Air Force Network (AFNET) and AF Information Network under one commander. The 688th has gone through several iterations over time, now landing in the space of network operations. A few challenges the wing faces are how to revitalize the squadrons and weapons systems sustainment. Additionally, the ability to be agile is vital. Maximizing and ensuring the right solution brings the next biggest challenge to the wing, which is enterprise as a service. On the operational side, the organization looks at the capabilities as a service, trying to find the blind spots and ask the questions that are not evident. Col. O'Malley shared the integrated cyber capabilities in support of combatant and air component commanders by referencing the six lines of effort for the 688th, BOSDEE: build, operate, secure, defend, extend and engage. "The organizational structure is steeped in the first five characters of BOSDEE," O'Malley said. "It is the cradle-to-grave management of AFNET and the Information Network. Our overall goal is to be able to support the Air Force and its core mission and to ensure we are able to do the things that the nation has asked us to do."

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