Human Capital Management for the USAF Cyber Force

Abstract

In late 2006, the Air Force announced that cyberspace would constitute a new mission domain for the service, along with air and space domains. Since that announcement, the Air Force has developed an organizational construct in which Air Force Space Command will oversee the preparation of combat-ready forces to conduct sustained offensive and defensive global operations in and through cyberspace and will present cyberspace forces to combatant commanders through a component numbered Air Force. A vital component of the Air Force's envisioned cyber capabilities is the human capital that will make up the cyber force. The human capital management and development policies will have far-reaching implications for the kind of skilled cyber force the Air Force has today and in the future. The research described in this report was sponsored by three Headquarters United States Air Force (HAF) offices: Warfighting Integration (SAF/XC), Cyber Operations (AF/A3O-C), and the Development Directorate within Manpower and Personnel (AF/A1D). Its objective was to identify and analyze the human capital management issues associated with the creation and management of a cyber force. The work was performed as part of a fiscal year 2007 study, "USAF Specialty Code Restructuring," and conducted within the Manpower, Personnel, and Training Program of RAND Project AIR FORCE. This documented briefing contains slides and text that describe the background, methodology, and findings of the study. It concludes with recommendations about how the Air Force should pursue the creation and management of a highly skilled cyber force. The documented briefing should be of interest to those involved in human capital management policy and the design of workforce development strategies for computer network operations capabilities in the armed forces and many government agencies.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA517243

Entities

People

  • Darren D. Medlin
  • Edward O'connell
  • Lynn M. Scott
  • Raymond E. Conley
  • Richard Mesic

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Cyber Warfare
  • Cyberattacks
  • Cyberspace
  • Cyberspace Operations
  • Employment
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Information Operations
  • Information Systems
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychological Operations
  • United States Strategic Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Cybersecurity.
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Space