Cyberspace Mission Focus: NW Ops vs. NetOps

ISBN: 128828571X

Author: Hawker, Travis J

Condition: New

This research outlines a method of reasoning for understanding warfighting domains, defining operations within a warfighting domain (primarily offensive, defensive and security) and correlating that operational understanding into mission requirements within the Air Force in order to better answer the questions, "How do we fly, fight and win in cyberspace?" In doing so, this research will attempt to show that what is currently coined as defensive operations on the network are in fact more properly aligned with the doctrinal definition of security in the air and land domains. Furthermore, this research will focus on the inherent differences between the Air Force specific missions of Network Warfare Operations and Network Operations, primarily operations vs. maintenance, and how this different mission focus is misrepresented in terms of personnel and organizational structure. Finally, it will, in response to this misrepresentation, provide brief examples of personnel and organizational changes, using the air domain as a model, which may better align Air Force cyberspace efforts with the ever pressing unique mission requirements resident within the domain.