Cyberspace Command Chief visits the 552nd ACW

Published Nov. 21, 2007
By 2nd Lt Kinder Blacke
552nd Air Control Wing Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Enlisted personnel from the 552nd Air Control Wing received a visit from the 8th Air Force Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Todd A. Kabalan, during his third site visit to the wing on Nov. 14-16.
   Chief Kabalan provides a two-way connection between 8th Air Force headquarters and the 552nd ACW. His key message to Airmen during this visit was "attention to detail," and he encouraged personnel to "continue to do great work."
   He also discussed the creation of Air Force Cyberspace Command (Provisional), which was stood up on Sept. 18 at the direction of the Secretary of the Air Force. Chief Kabalan is the command chief for the newest major command until the permanent MAJCOM is established no later than October 2008.
   "Cyberspace is a domain like land, sea, air and space and it must be defended," Chief Kabalan said. "Although we've been operating in cyberspace for a very long time, we must now be prepared to conduct a full range of military operations in this domain."
   Cyberspace is a whole new battlefield, Chief Kabalan said, but it doesn't require an expensive jet to attack.
   "The adversary's weapon can be as simple as a cellular phone," he said.
   "Just as the air domain is characterized by operations in and through the atmosphere, the cyber domain is characterized by use of electronics and the electromagnetic spectrum to store, modify and exchange data via networked systems and associated physical infrastructure," Chief Kabalan explained.
   "AFCYBER will provide robust, survivable access to cyberspace with offensive and defensive capabilities that ensure cross-domain freedom of action for our friends and allies, and deny the same to our adversaries -- a global effect," said Chief Kabalan.
   It has not yet been determined whether the 552nd ACW will fall under the direction of AFCYBER, however, as Chief Kabalan said, "the 552nd is all about cyberspace." While visiting the wing, Chief Kabalan said he found a lot to report back to headquarters about what he witnessed from 552nd ACW Airmen.
   "I was truly impressed and amazed by the great work being done in the 552nd," Chief Kabalan said. "The Airmen are doing phenomenal things on a daily basis, and are very proactive about their role in the mission."
   Chief Kabalan said he was particularly impressed by a crew chief he met, Senior Airman John J. Okeefe, 552nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
   "This crew chief was completely dedicated to doing the right thing," Chief Kabalan said. "He was a real, confident Airman, and I was blown away by the way he personified our core values."
   The 552nd ACW clearly made a significant impression on Chief Kabalan, who said he gave away twice as many coins as he normally does on such visits.
His last words: "Keep up the great work!"

Chief Greeting