http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50714
By Tim Kilbride
Special to American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2008 – Faced with a rapidly evolving and borderless technological landscape, the U.S. military is reaching out to government, academia and industry for help in developing capabilities for protecting the nation’s cyber infrastructure, an Army electronic warfare expert said yesterday.
Col. Wayne A. Parks outlined for military bloggers the broad effort under way to keep up with technological change and the resultant emerging threats to the United States’ defense.
Parks is Electronic Warfare Proponent director of computer network operations and Training and Doctrine Command capabilities manager for at the Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
The challenge is immense, Parks said, and research partnerships have been critical in framing the mission.
“Our understanding of the science of cyber-electronics is relatively immature at this point,” Parks said. “It includes the study of both the physical and the virtual.”
Part of the task is to ensure that the Army works through these concepts carefully and defines them in a way that doesn't limit intellectual exploration of potential and emerging concepts or capabilities, he said.
In that exploration, the Army must balance evolving how the military thinks about cyber-electronics with continuing to develop capabilities for the operational front, he added.
“There's been some tremendous things going on, especially in [Iraq and Afghanistan], where electronic warfare has helped in the operations and in limiting and reducing … the deaths in theater,” he said.
Operational requirements in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially the need to defeat roadside bombs, spurred the Army to speed development of near-term solutions, Parks explained.
Simultaneous research and development has continued on mid- to long-term electronic warfare capabilities, he said, with the goal of keeping pace on both the tactical and strategic levels.
“Cyber-electronics could include or have distinct relationships between things that we call network operations, network warfare, computer network operations, space superiority, electronic warfare and the electromagnetic spectrum operations,” Parks said. “Each represents a different slice of the cyber-electronic continuum within which different capabilities must exist.”
At the strategic level, the Army’s two main responsibilities are maintaining its internal capabilities and networks to be able to deploy around the world and defending the United States’ borders and inside its borders, Parks explained.
But cyberspace has no distinct, physical borders, Parks said. “There is no nation-state border where we're talking now,” he explained.
“There are nation-state sponsors, and we have to look at it in terms of nation-state sponsors, as well as those who are not nation-state sponsors -- I might call them cyber-state sponsors -- who are really developing on their own out there.”
The military is working with interagency partners to officially define its way ahead with regard to defending areas of the financial, travel and related industries that operate across nation-state and cyber-state boundaries, Parks said. The same collaborative approach applies to fielding technologies, he said, and the Army has developed the mind set of “go work with your sister services as they get things approved.”
One potential technology is what Parks described as “self-healing networks,” virtual worlds wherein the system can isolate a weak point and regenerate or repair itself without human intervention. These types of networks could stand up to cyber attacks, he said.
(Tim Kilbride works in the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)
Showing posts with label Doctrine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Doctrine. Show all posts
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Symposium gets to core of Air Force's role in cyberspace
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123107290
by Scott Knuteson
Air University Public Affairs
7/18/2008 - MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) -- In an effort to bring together minds and ideas from across the cyberspace community, Air University officials hosted a week-long cyberspace symposium here recently. Some 250 professional civilian and military information experts gathered to discuss the implications of cyberspace, especially with regard to the Air Force and national defense.
Officials from the United States Strategic Command, 8th Air Force and the provisional Air Force Cyber Command helped host the symposium.
"Airmen must implement their warfighting traditions in the cyberspace domain," said Dr. Rebecca Grant, founder and president of IRIS Independent Research. "I think we need the Air Force to truly embrace and understand this and excel in cyberspace, as they have in the domain of air and space.
"If there was ever a domain that needed an 'air-minded' look, [cyberspace] is it," she said, after comparing the current development in the cyber realm to that of Brig. Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell's approach to airpower.
Trust is the foundation for a working cyberspace realm, said Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, commander of 8th Air Force and joint functional component commander for global strike and integration at U.S. Strategic Command.
"How do you put the trust relationship back in?" he asked. "It's not by establishing a hierarchical organization. It's by establishing a body of law [which mandates conformance as a prerequisite to connection]. Defense of a network requires everyone's involvement."
During his remarks, General Elder focused on defining cyberspace and discussed how cyberspace relates to national security operations and the Air Force.
And, he noted, adaptation cannot come too quickly in the protection of such an amorphous domain.
"We are not changing fast enough," he said. "This is a national problem, not just a military one. You have to approach [cyberspace] from a network standpoint."
Currently, 8th Air Force serves as the air component headquarters to U.S. Strategic Command for cyberspace operations, among other things, and personnel in the command are responsible for the security and defense of the Air Force's global computer enterprise network.
"Every military service provides cyber forces," General Elder said. "We're trying to provide forces that can provide support for joint cyber warfare operations."
He correlated cyberspace adaptation with airpower, and noted that this relatively new domain is unlike any other. But, the general said, it must be defended.
"We have a physical, logical, wireless and social network to defend," he said. "The bottom line is that there is an attack vector that goes against each facet. We have to protect each one."
Air Force officials have taken on a role in cyberspace protection and plans are underway to select the host base for the newly formed, provisional Air Force Cyber Command. In a memo to attendees, General Elder said the symposium, "will allow discussion on the vital topic of the Air Force's role in protecting the cyberspace domain."
Following midday working group sessions, conferees heard remarks from Dr. Grant. She focused on policy decisions and the philosophical nature of cyberspace as a "domain," in contrast to the traditional "domains" of air, land, and sea.
"I think it's really exciting that we're able to watch a new domain emerge," she said, comparing cyberspace to the emergence of air as a domain for technology propagated by the Wright Brothers and airpower icons such as General Mitchell.
Dr. Grant compared the relatively new domain to ancient Socratic thought and the dilemma of what is real and what is not.
"Cyberspace is not land, the sea, or the air. It is, in large part, a cognitive domain," Dr. Grant said. "That is partly why it gives us trouble as we think of policies for how we will act in this domain."
Dr. Grant also approached the issue of nation-state sovereignty in a domain which knows no bounds.
"Our objective is to safeguard the commons," she said. "But where are the new sovereign boundaries? If it's not a geographic line, is it somewhere in that technical transport structure that creates the Internet?"
Conferees were treated to briefings such as these, which addressed a broad range of cyberspace topics. They were also able to choose from three focused learning tracks which were "Cyberspace Doctrine and Concepts of Operations," "Cyberspace Policy and Law" and "USAF Cyber: Supporting National Security."
"It is fitting that we have this symposium at Maxwell," Lt. Gen. Allen Peck, Air University commander, said during his remarks. "This is the intellectual and leadership center of our Air Force. Seventy years ago, the Air Corps Tactical School moved to Maxwell Field, and was instrumental in developing our understanding of the potential for exploiting the air domain for warfighters. Today we are exploring another relatively new domain and the implications it has for the Air Force and our nation."
by Scott Knuteson
Air University Public Affairs
7/18/2008 - MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) -- In an effort to bring together minds and ideas from across the cyberspace community, Air University officials hosted a week-long cyberspace symposium here recently. Some 250 professional civilian and military information experts gathered to discuss the implications of cyberspace, especially with regard to the Air Force and national defense.
Officials from the United States Strategic Command, 8th Air Force and the provisional Air Force Cyber Command helped host the symposium.
"Airmen must implement their warfighting traditions in the cyberspace domain," said Dr. Rebecca Grant, founder and president of IRIS Independent Research. "I think we need the Air Force to truly embrace and understand this and excel in cyberspace, as they have in the domain of air and space.
"If there was ever a domain that needed an 'air-minded' look, [cyberspace] is it," she said, after comparing the current development in the cyber realm to that of Brig. Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell's approach to airpower.
Trust is the foundation for a working cyberspace realm, said Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, commander of 8th Air Force and joint functional component commander for global strike and integration at U.S. Strategic Command.
"How do you put the trust relationship back in?" he asked. "It's not by establishing a hierarchical organization. It's by establishing a body of law [which mandates conformance as a prerequisite to connection]. Defense of a network requires everyone's involvement."
During his remarks, General Elder focused on defining cyberspace and discussed how cyberspace relates to national security operations and the Air Force.
And, he noted, adaptation cannot come too quickly in the protection of such an amorphous domain.
"We are not changing fast enough," he said. "This is a national problem, not just a military one. You have to approach [cyberspace] from a network standpoint."
Currently, 8th Air Force serves as the air component headquarters to U.S. Strategic Command for cyberspace operations, among other things, and personnel in the command are responsible for the security and defense of the Air Force's global computer enterprise network.
"Every military service provides cyber forces," General Elder said. "We're trying to provide forces that can provide support for joint cyber warfare operations."
He correlated cyberspace adaptation with airpower, and noted that this relatively new domain is unlike any other. But, the general said, it must be defended.
"We have a physical, logical, wireless and social network to defend," he said. "The bottom line is that there is an attack vector that goes against each facet. We have to protect each one."
Air Force officials have taken on a role in cyberspace protection and plans are underway to select the host base for the newly formed, provisional Air Force Cyber Command. In a memo to attendees, General Elder said the symposium, "will allow discussion on the vital topic of the Air Force's role in protecting the cyberspace domain."
Following midday working group sessions, conferees heard remarks from Dr. Grant. She focused on policy decisions and the philosophical nature of cyberspace as a "domain," in contrast to the traditional "domains" of air, land, and sea.
"I think it's really exciting that we're able to watch a new domain emerge," she said, comparing cyberspace to the emergence of air as a domain for technology propagated by the Wright Brothers and airpower icons such as General Mitchell.
Dr. Grant compared the relatively new domain to ancient Socratic thought and the dilemma of what is real and what is not.
"Cyberspace is not land, the sea, or the air. It is, in large part, a cognitive domain," Dr. Grant said. "That is partly why it gives us trouble as we think of policies for how we will act in this domain."
Dr. Grant also approached the issue of nation-state sovereignty in a domain which knows no bounds.
"Our objective is to safeguard the commons," she said. "But where are the new sovereign boundaries? If it's not a geographic line, is it somewhere in that technical transport structure that creates the Internet?"
Conferees were treated to briefings such as these, which addressed a broad range of cyberspace topics. They were also able to choose from three focused learning tracks which were "Cyberspace Doctrine and Concepts of Operations," "Cyberspace Policy and Law" and "USAF Cyber: Supporting National Security."
"It is fitting that we have this symposium at Maxwell," Lt. Gen. Allen Peck, Air University commander, said during his remarks. "This is the intellectual and leadership center of our Air Force. Seventy years ago, the Air Corps Tactical School moved to Maxwell Field, and was instrumental in developing our understanding of the potential for exploiting the air domain for warfighters. Today we are exploring another relatively new domain and the implications it has for the Air Force and our nation."
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
USAF Doctrine
AFDD 1, Air Force Basic Doctrine: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/service_pubs/afdd1.pdf
AFDD 2, Operations and Organization: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/service_pubs/afdd2.pdf
AFDD 2-5, Information Operations: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/service_pubs/afdd2_5.pdf
AFDD 2-5.1: Electronic Warfare: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/service_pubs/afd2_5_1.pdf
AFDD 2, Operations and Organization: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/service_pubs/afdd2.pdf
AFDD 2-5, Information Operations: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/service_pubs/afdd2_5.pdf
AFDD 2-5.1: Electronic Warfare: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/service_pubs/afd2_5_1.pdf
US DoD Joint Doctrine
DoD's Joint doctrine documents are available electronically: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/
Joint doctrine hierarchy chart: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/docinfo/pstatus/status.pdf
Joint Publication 3-13, Information Operations: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp3_13.pdf
Joint Publication 3-13.1, Electronic Warfare: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp3_13_1.pdf
Joint doctrine hierarchy chart: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/docinfo/pstatus/status.pdf
Joint Publication 3-13, Information Operations: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp3_13.pdf
Joint Publication 3-13.1, Electronic Warfare: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp3_13_1.pdf
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