Twenty-Fourth Air Force
Numbered Air Force
Unit nameTwenty-Fourth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber)
Dates7 December 2010 - 11 October 2019 (as Twenty-Fourth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber))
11 August 2009 - 7 December 2010 (as Twenty-Fourth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic))
()[1]
CountryUnited States of America
RoleProvide combat-ready air force cyber forces for U.S. Cyber Command[2]
Command structure Air Combat Command
U.S. Cyber Command
GarrisonJoint Base San Antonio, Texas, U.S.[3]
Garrison labelHeadquarters
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

Twenty-Fourth Air Force / Air Forces Cyber (AFCYBER)[4] was a Numbered Air Force within the United States Air Force. The Air Force consolidated its cyberspace combat and support forces into 24 AF.[5] 24 AF was the Air Force component of U.S. Cyber Command.

On 11 October 2019, the 24th AF was merged with the 25th AF to form a reactivated 16th Air Force.

Formation

The 24AF was originally intended to be a part of the now-defunct Air Force Cyber Command; however, 24AF became a component of Air Force Space Command on 18 August 2009.

In August 2008, then-Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz placed a stop order suspending implementation of Air Force Cyber Command, halting personnel assignments and unit activations. On 6 October 2008, following its annual Corona conference, the Air Force announced Air Force Cyber Command activation would not take place, and that a Numbered Air Force, 24AF, would gain the cyber warfare mission as part of Air Force Space Command.[6]

One key element under 24 AF is the Air Force's primary network warfare wing, the 67th Cyberspace Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The new NAF also gained:

Over 14,000 Airmen make up 24 AF. Many of these are in place at other organizations. Air Force units also host cyber specialists from other organizations. Before the 24 AF was activated, the Air Force had announced six possible locations for its headquarters: Barksdale AFB, LA; Lackland AFB, TX; Langley AFB, VA; Offutt AFB, NE; Peterson AFB, CO; and Scott AFB, IL.

On 15 May 2009, Air Force officials announced Lackland as the preferred alternative, and the decision was confirmed on 12 August 2009.[7] The organization officially stood-up on 18 August 2009.[8][9] On 22 January 2010, 24AF was certified by AFSPC/CC for its Initial Operational Capability.[10] Full Operational Capability was declared on 1 October 2010.[11]

History

In 2014, 24 AF provided the Cyber Mission Force for the Exercise Red Flag for the first time.[12] During U.S. Strategic Command's Exercise Global Lightning 14, 24AF operated as a Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber in support of a combatant commander during a large joint exercise for the first time.[13] Twenty-Fourth Air Force was reassigned to Air Combat Command on 17 July 2018.[14]

Units

List of commanders

No.CommanderTerm
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length

See also

References

  • Lord, William T., Major General, USAF (Fall 2008), "USAF Cyberspace Command To Fly and Fight in Cyberspace, Strategic Studies Quarterly", United States Air Force, p. 15
  1. ^ "Twenty-Fourth Air Force (AFSPC)". af.mil. Archived 28 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Air Forces Cyber > Home". www.24af.af.mil. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Lackland chosen as cyber numbered Air Force headquarters". Af.mil. Archived 17 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  4. ^ Tech. Sgt. Scott McNabb. "24th AF becomes AFCYBER". Af.mil. Archived 20 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". af.mil. Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Air Force senior leaders take up key decisions". Archived 19 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ "Lackland chosen as cyber numbered Air Force headquarters". Afspc.af.mil. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 9 March 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  8. ^ San Antonio Express-News, "New Cyber Command Activated at Lackland AFB", 18 August 2009.
  9. ^ Gen. C. Robert Kehler (19 August 2009). "Twenty-Fourth Air Force Activation". 24af.af.mil. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  10. ^ 24 AF link "Air Force Cyber Numbered Air Force achieves initial operational capability, 26 Jan 2010 Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine"
  11. ^ "24th AF reaches full capability". Airforcetimes.com. Archived 17 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  12. ^ Eshel, Tamir (15 March 2014). "Cyber Operations Become Part of the Red-Flag Game Plan". defense-update.com. Defense Update. Archived 15 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  13. ^ Hein, Meredith (18 June 2014). "Global Lightning electrifies the joint fight". www.afspc.af.mil. USAF. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  14. ^ "24th Air Force joins Air Combat Command, welcomes new commander". 18 July 2018.