The U.S. Space Force will begin onboarding cyber professionals from the U.S. Air Force into its ranks to protect sensitive systems and missions. The added personnel will work to defend installations, including ground terminals and space assets, such as satellites. The transfer began in early Feb. 2021.
“Why it’s so important for us to have those cyber professionals on the Space Force team — organic to our team — is that they will be part of our crew force. They will understand the cyber terrain of space, and it will help us protect this critical domain from that threat,” chief of Space Operations and 2021 Wash100 Award recipient Gen. Jay Raymond.
Raymond said about 1,300 enlisted Air Force and officers will be transferred by the end of the month. Space Force’s guardians will work in tandem with the Air Force’s cyber squadron initiative to build the agency’s mission defense teams. The U.S. Air Force mission defense teams feature specialized cyber experts that protect critical Air Force missions and installations.
The defense teams are supported by the Air Force’s enterprise-IT-as-a-service model, where mundane tasks are outsourced to contractors, enabling servicemen to perform cyber defense. The Space Force will leverage a similar framework to enable its cyber workforce to defend its terrain.
Raymond was recognized as 2021 Wash100 Award recipient for driving modernization priorities and digital strategy to provide economic and national security to our nation. The recognition marks the second consecutive Wash100 Award Raymond has received.
Executive Mosaic congratulates Gen. John Raymond and the U.S. Space Force team for their 2021 Wash100 Award selection. Raymond’s efforts throughout the year have strengthened warfighter readiness and digital fluency, enabling the branch to remain competitive in the future of warfare and space.
To vote for Raymond, or your favorite leader of this year’s Wash100 Award selection, visit Wash100.com to cast your TEN votes, learn more about the history of the award and read about the latest class of winners from 2021.
