Virtual connections can never replace the bonds formed through handshakes and meeting together in-person, explained Col. Billy Pope Jr., USAF, commander, 690th Cyberspace Operations Group, and director of intelligence and operations, 688th Cyberspace Wing A2/3, America's first cyber wing.
The 688th cyber wing enables connectivity and functionality to secure and defend mission assurance for the Air Force to fly, fight and win. The common theme throughout Col. Pope's discussion with members and attendees of the chapter's monthly luncheon was mission assurance. Mission assurance is having available, reputable, defended and secured information technology infrastructure. Col. Pope explained that available and not secure infrastructure is not enough, just as defended networks that are unserviceable are not enough. Moving away from the prior alignment and focus, synchronizing operations and an intelligence strategy and plans are now the focus and priority. Col. Pope discussed the transformation and why there was a change in the former model. All of that lies with having mission assurance and the functionality and security at the heart of it. "It's our responsibility."
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(From l-r) Rick Lipsey, chapter president, poses for a photo with Col. Billy Pope Jr., USAF, commander, 690th Cyberspace Operations Group, and director of intelligence and operations, 688th Cyberspace Wing A2/3, and Col. Lamont Atkins, USAF, chapter vice president of programs, at the May event. |
