Air Force picks site for cyber command

A new Air Force headquarters dedicated to cyber operations will likely be located at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, according to Air Force officials. The cyber command will be a new numbered headquarters, the 24th Air Force, they added.

Air Force officials considered creating a major cyber command but later decided to instead create the cyber headquarters, according to the Air Force. The provisional cyber command is located at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

The final decision on where to locate the new cyber headquarters will be made after an environmental study at Lackland is completed, according to an Air Force announcement dated May 15.

In October 2008, service officials announced the creation a Cyber-Numbered Air Force under the Air Force Space Command. The service then announced the six candidate bases for the headquarters and began site surveys that teams completed in March. The six candidate bases were Barksdale; Lackland; Langley Air Force Base, Va.; Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.; Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.; and Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

In selecting Lackland as the preferred alternative for the cyber mission, Air Force officials considered mission synergy issues including proximity to other cyber operational missions and access to scientific and technical expertise, according to the service. Officials also considered communication and bandwidth capabilities. Other criteria evaluated included facilities and infrastructure, support capacity, security and transportation considerations.

Air Force officials intend to make a final base selection this summer after an environmental impact study is complete.