The U.S. Air Force has repositioned the Program Executive Office for Cyber and Networks’ Aerial Networks Division, placing it under the service branch’s PEO for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management, or C3BM.
In the Air Force Materiel Command announcement of the realignment Monday, Maj. Gen. Luke Cropsey, C3BM’s program executive officer, called the division “absolutely core” to the future warfighting capability of the Air Force. “If we don’t figure this part of it out, and if we don’t keep pushing forward with the talent, the capabilities and the skill sets that this team brings to bear, we aren’t going to win the next one,” Cropsey, a Wash100 Award winner, remarked.
Air Force PEO Division Leadership Turnover
The realignment of the division was coupled with a turnover in its leadership to Col. Alan Louie from Col. Thomas Ward, whom Cropsey thanked for his past contribution to the team. The C3BM PEO also conveyed excitement for the “incredible wealth of experience and background” that Louie is bringing into the division.
Jeremy Thiele, acting PEO for the Cyber and Networks Directorate, cited the division’s previous accomplishments, including $900 million in annual acquisition, fielding and maintenance of critical communication capabilities for Air Force warfighters.
As an integrator within the Air Force, the C3BM PEO oversees the design and delivery of the DAF Battle Network connecting sensor, effector and logistics systems. An Air Force contribution to the Department of Defense’s Joint All Domain Command and Control approach, the network is designed to deliver better situational awareness and faster decision-making.
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