Gen. Mike Holmes, commander of Air Combat Command, announced a new information warfare numbered air force that will combine the 24th and 25th air forces, the service branch reported Wednesday.
The command announced in April its plans to merge the two air forces in order to integrate electronic warfare, cyber, information operations and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas.
“The activation of 16th (Air Force) will synchronize the mission areas of ISR, electronic warfare, cyber and information operations capabilities,†Holmes said Wednesday at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md. “This integrated capability will provide multi-domain options to component and combatant commanders around the globe.â€
Defense Secretary and a 2019 Wash 100 winner Mark Esper announced Wednesday that President Donald Trump has nominated Air Force Maj. Gen. Timothy Haugh to serve as commander of the 16th air force and for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general.
Haugh is the current head of the 25th air force. He previously served as commander of the Cyber National Mission Force and director of intelligence at U.S. Cyber Command.
