Cyberspace Operations Today

The chapter hosted Col. James Hewitt, USAF, commander, 318th Cyberspace Operations Group, 67th Cyberspace Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, for their first 2020 monthly luncheon speaker series. Col. Hewitt leads more than 800 professionals across five total force squadrons and three detachments in the conduct of cyber warfare and information operations training. This includes a multifaceted area of support with regard to cyberspace capabilities and operational testing. Col. Hewitt spoke about the roles and duties of the detachments and squadrons. He also noted that each of these detachments has a unique function and fulfills very specific roles. The efforts of the 318th Cyberspace Operations Group and the 67th Cyberspace Wing are all integrated into the Air Force Warfare Center exercises for Air Force and joint warfighters. "We develop, we test, we train and we exercise," the colonel stated. The 318th Cyberspace Operations Group has many major lines of effort, but these emphasized efforts are sometimes coined as the "big rocks." Col. Hewitt added, "One of the first big rocks after standing up of the range squadron was to sync the cyber domain with the other operational domains." The goal was to have one central squadron to handle all cyber range business, with the range squadron designed as the single point of entry. Another focus of Col. Hewitt was the recognition and praise given to the talent of the airmen and young officers that are in the Air Force today. Col. Hewitt praised the airmen, saying how these young airmen and officers can solve problems and have the mental tenacity to approach problems, and it really is breathtaking. Col. Hewitt concluded by pointing out the partnership with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, which enables DevSecOps and LevelUP to help build their platform as a service across the full range of Air Force missions, along with other partners in academia and military to create the synergy between innovation and capability development. One of the hopes of the collaboration is not only to speed up the solution to match the need but to foster an environment and expand the relationship of a good origin for interns to support the Air Force.

The chapter also initiated a brand-new award to highlight and recognize the many volunteers that not only make this organization run but thrive. Each board member looked over their committee of volunteers and submitted through written parameters those who demonstrated qualities above and beyond their volunteer duties. We are proud to announce that Stacey Alvarado of P3S Corporation received January's Alamo Chapter Volunteer of the Month Award. Stacey is a writer and stand-in emcee for the publicity team. Congratulations!

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