I was trolling around Twitter and came across a link from Jason Healey (@Jason_Healey), the director of the Cyber Statecraft Initiative at the Atlantic Council. The tweet linked an article that Healey had written for the Fall 2012 Strategic Studies Quarterly; the article was titled “Claiming the Lost Cyber Heritage.” It was fantastic.
Anyone who has worn or is currently wearing a U.S. Air Force uniform should read this article. Healey looked at how the Air Force has traditionally taught its airmen about heroes like Billy Mitchell, Eddie Rickenbacker, Lance P. Sijan, Robin Olds, the Hat in the Ring Squadron, etc. This education pays homage to our rich fighter pilot heritage, tying these giants of the past to our understanding of the future. However, Healey believes that the Air Force’s cyber heritage “has been forgotten and ignored as irrelevant.” That cyber heritage is indeed rich: Healey noted the efforts of the 609th Information Warfare Squadron, the first AF joint cyber commander, and the AF’s targeting of a Cold War era cyberespionage ring. Healey goes on to say that the Air Force ” must reclaim its proud cyber heritage and build ‘cyber-mindedness'” if “the Air Force is going to become the premiere force to fly, fight, and win in cyberspace . . ..”
Healey explained that our blindness to this history has had consequences. Notably, the Air Force has suffered “doctrinal lock in” with regard to cyberattacks that occur at the “speed of light.”
Healey suggested teaching more cyber heritage at both the commissioning source and PME levels, among other solutions.
A very interesting article. My summary cannot do it full justice, so please check out Jason Healey’s article for the Fall 2012 Strategic Studies Quarterly here.
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