Kehler and Pulham Discuss Cyberspace

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Apr. 13, 2010) — Air Force Space Command Commander Gen. C. Robert Kehler, USAF, and Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham kicked off the Space Foundation’s 26th National Space Symposium this morning with opening remarks at Cyber 1.0.

Kehler spoke about Air Force Space Command’s newly acquired responsibility for cyberspace, saying “Although we’re not ‘Air Force Space and Cyberspace Command,” we could be. Something happens at the intersection of space and cyberspace and we need to recognize the advantages of having these two items in the same command.”

Kehler went on to say that we need to avoid making the same mistakes made with space by thinking of cyberspace as an operational domain.  He said that the 24th Air Force was created as operational entity with a focus on cyberspace and that the 24th Air Force commander is also the commander of the Air Force network.

He outlined several objectives for cyberspace:

• Speeding up the acquisition process using a tiered process and possibly putting acquisition authority at the unit level
• Focusing on mission assurance rather than attempting to defend the entire network
• Including cyber defense blocks in basic training so that “every airman will be a cyber airman”

Commenting on the pervasive influence of cyberspace, Kehler said, “When you sit down at your computer, you are entering contested space.” He said that, although this is a new responsibility, Air Force Space Command is “ready to be ready,” adding that there is a lot of room for discovery: “USAF has postured itself very well for the future.”

Pulham discussed the definition of cyberspace, saying that the Air Force has three domains, “air – mach speed; space – escape velocities; and cyber – the speed of light.”

Cyber 1.0  is new event explores the realm of cyberspace, its impact on military operations and civilian life, national security, commerce, and communications.