In October, the chapter hosted Danny Holtzman, cyber technical director, U.S. Air Force, and Matt Phillips, chief data officer, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA), as its monthly guest speakers. Holtzman and Philips visited Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from October 18-22 as part of Operation Vulcan Logic (OVL) to assist USAFE-AFAFRICA in establishing their authorization boundary. These efforts will allow the major command to execute the Risk Management Framework (RMF) process internally through a modernized OVL methodology modeled after the Fast-track Authority-to-Operate process.
Holtzman briefed the chapter on OVL capabilities. He stated that the operation is an agile authorization process where the programs and systems seeking authorization have clearly outlined criteria, observables and behavior expectations and templates to leverage when interacting with the authorizing official for authorization determinations. Additionally, the OVL allows the authorizing official the ability to assess, determine and articulate the risk of use for systems/capabilities within their boundary, a standard process flow has been outlined to assist the programs, and cyber risk assessors play a similar role as the RMF security control assessor in communicating with a common frame of reference.
Phillips provided a brief highlighting USAFE-AFAFRICA's priorities and environment while also cementing the command's focus on accelerating decision advantage by driving digital modernization that enables datacentric operations at speed and scale. During the presentation, he conveyed that he works closely with Col. Oscar Delgado, USAF, chief information officer and A6, and Aspasia Wooldridge, chief information technology officer, to enable and foster datacentric strategy, operations, modernization and literacy. "Data is the new cyber, and there are many overlapping and advancing capabilities across numerous components, agencies and organizations, so it's pretty difficult to get your arms around all of it and chart what works for USAFE-AFAFRICA," he stated. Phillips also spent some time discussing artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) at a high level to provide information on industry and defense applications while emphasizing that complete, accurate and trusted data is vital to the application of AI/ML. "AI/ML will not solve process, bureaucratic and policy issues," he said. Finally, his insight on technology and data transformation focus areas and efforts within the command was a valuable takeaway for the audience.
Over the next few months, Holtzman and the A6 team will partner and mentor the staff through developing their authorization boundary with the end goal of having the USAFE-AFAFRICA deputy commander be designated as the authorizing official. |
