Over 200 community leaders and military officials were in attendance Wednesday for a Change of Command and Command Reassignment Ceremony at the Gateway Club on Lackland AFB. The ceremony marked a significant day in the history of 24th Air Force, as the command welcomed its newest commander Major General Robert Skinner, while also being reassigned from Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) to Air Combat Command (ACC).
Since its original activation in 2009, 24th Air Force has been aligned to Air Force Space Command, headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO. Your Chamber led the community effort nearly a decade ago to develop a concise and encompassing story as to why the Air Force should choose to standup their ‘cyber command’ in San Antonio. Under the leadership of former Executive Vice President at the Chamber, Bill Mock (Col, USAF Ret.), a small group of Chamber volunteers worked closely with Air Force leadership through an effort that ultimately changed the direction of where 24th Air Force would be located. Since 24th Air Force reached initial operating capability (IOC) in 2009, your Chamber has led community efforts to support the men and women who serve at 24th AF and 25th AF, as well as NSA in Texas, through our Cybersecurity Industry Council and CyberSecurity San Antonio (CSSAtx) program.
The move transitions oversight of 24th Air Force to ACC, a major command headquartered at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. ACC is the primary provider of air combat forces to America's warfighting commanders.
“This move will drive faster decisions as we fight by realigning the cyber operations and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions under the same command,” Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson said, in a June 7 statement.
Community leaders in attendance on Wednesday could sense the importance of this new reassignment if, by nothing else, the attendance of two four-star Air Force general officers. Both General Jay Raymond, Commander, Air Force Space Command and General Mike Holmes, Commander, Air Combat Command, presided over the ceremony – where outgoing commander, Major General Christopher Weggeman, often had the crowd in attendance laughing loudly during his remarks.
The new command assignment brings Major General Skinner back to San Antonio, where he previously served as commander of the 688th Information Operations Wing (now the 688th Cyberspace Wing). In a unique, and clearly strategic move by Air Force leadership, General Skinner assumed command of the 24th immediately following his serve as Deputy Commander, Air Force Space Command – a role in which he worked closely with General Weggeman while 24th Air Force reported to AFSPC.
The combination of Air Forces cyber and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions under a single warfighting major command also signifies the Air Force’s continued strategic plans of combining its cyber and ISR missions into a single command. While no formal announcement has been made, many believe that a formal merger will occur over the next year.
Through CyberSecurity San Antonio, our community’s industry-driven program, your Chamber will continue to support the cyber and intel commands located in San Antonio, and work closely with the new leadership at 24th Air Force and ACC. For more information on how to get involved in CSSAtx contact Will Garrett (wgarrett@sachamber.org) or Amanda Keammerer (akeammerer@sachamber.org)
