Air Force Network Integration Center

Air Force Network Integration Center

Emblem of the Air Force Network Integration Center
Founded 15 July 2009
Country  United States
Branch United States Air Force
Part of Air Force Space Command
Commanders
Current
commander

Colonel John Dunks

The Air Force Network Integration Center (AFNIC), located at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the United States Air Force's only organization for Air Force Network integration, cyber simulation, and network standards, architecture and engineering services. Through these specialized technical services, AFNIC supports the nation's warfighters with decisive cyber capabilities for mission success.

The center, a direct reporting unit to Air Force Space Command is the focal point for integrating mission systems, business systems, commercial information technology products and other networks into the Air Force Network (AFNet). AFNIC's strategic-level network integration, architecture/standards, engineering and simulation services enable major commands, functional communities, and program offices to successfully and efficiently design, develop and deploy "networthy" capabilities for the Air Force.

As part of its integration mission, AFNIC also leads the Air Force's No. 1 cyber priority, Air Force Network Migration. This project consolidates the service's previous collection of standalone, unit-specific architectures into a single, centrally managed enterprise network that enhances security, reduces costs and improves standardization.

Mission

AFNIC empowers Airmen with decisive and assured cyberspace capabilities by providing highly innovative network architecture, engineering, integration and simulation services with unrivaled expertise, experience and commitment.[1]

Vision

Unleashing the power of cyberspace

Major Services

Air Force Network Integration: AFNIC guides customers through all stages of product development, leading to optimally performing capabilities primed for smooth integration onto the Air Force Network. As part of this process, a robust, holistic assessment of security, interoperability, supportability, sustainability, usability, policy compliance, and network usage is conducted. These Networthiness criteria are evaluated and validated during analysis and end-to-end testing, allowing for issues to be identified and resolved early which improves security and interoperability, facilitates reciprocity, and reduces the time needed for cross-component fielding of information technology.

Cyber Simulation: AFNIC provides simulator-based education, training, crew certification and exercise capabilities to develop cyber warriors' skills in protection and defense of the Air Force Network. The center also maintains a comprehensive suite of network analysis capabilities that provide the communications architecture, modeling, simulation, and analysis necessary for AFNet integration requirements.

Network Standards, Architectures and Engineering: AFNIC's network experts design and document future Air Force Network architecture plans which serve as a blueprint to standardize network capabilities and integrate them onto the AFNet. AFNIC engineers provide technical expertise to integrate ground, air and space networks as well as produce AFNet compliant network designs.

People

Approximately 110 military, civilian and contractor cyber professionals are assigned to perform the AFNIC mission.

AFNIC Personnel working with the Simulator Training Exercise (SIMTEX) range

Organization

AFNIC is composed of five directorates:

Network Architecture (NA): Designs and documents future AFNet infrastructure plans and standardizes network service capabilities. When a new system needs to be integrated onto the AFNet, NA reviews the system's architecture to identify and, if necessary, resolves any integration or compatibility issues between the programs and the network.

Network Engineering (NE): Provides technical network consulting to all Air Force organizations to help them properly connect their systems and products to the AFNet.

Network Validation (NV): Validates program performance against representative physical and simulated AFNet environments to assure network security, increase interoperability with the network, and maximize program functionality. NV also leverages AFNIC's advanced simulation capabilities to support cyber training and exercises.

Networthiness (NW): Leads the Networthiness assessment of all systems, applications and devices for effective integration onto the AFNet.

Plans and Programs (XP): Leads all operational, concept, functional and strategic support functions relating to local and enterprise strategic and integration planning.

History

The AFNIC has a long and proud lineage, and now serves as the sixth generation AF central communications and information organization. AFNIC traces its history back to the Army Airways Communications System (AACS), which was organized on 15 November 1938 in the Directorate of Communications of the U.S. Army Air Corps. The official lineage of the AACS as a separate unit, began on 13 April 1943 with the constitution of the AACS Wing. The wing was soon reassigned directly to HQ Army Air Forces, on 14 July 1943. Major command status was reached with the addition of Headquarters (HQ) to the AACS name on 26 April 1944.

On 13 March 1946, AACS was redesignated Air Communications Service (ACS) and reassigned to the Air Transport Command. The ACS was then redesignated the Airways and Air Communications Service (AACS) on 11 September 1946, and subsequently reassigned to the Military Air Transport Service on 1 June 1948.

Airways and Air Communications Service became an Air Force major command again on 1 July 1961, and was simultaneously redesignated Air Force Communications Service (AFCS).

AFCS was redesignated Air Force Communications Command (AFCC) on 15 November 1979. AFCC became a field operating agency on 1 July 1991, reporting to Headquarters United States Air Force. Around this time, it lost all the communications units that had been gathered under it for many years. These units went to the groups or wings they had worked for. It was redesignated Air Force Command, Control, Communications, and Computer Agency (AFC4A) on 28 May 1993; AFC4A was redesignated the Air Force Communications Agency (AFCA) on 13 June 1996 and on 1 April 1997 was assigned to the Air Force Communications and Information Center. AFCA was reassigned to HQ United States Air Force on 1 October 2000.

AFCA was reassigned to HQ Air Force Space Command, the Air Force's designated lead for cyber, on 4 May 2009, and redesignated the Air Force Network Integration Center on 15 July 2009. AFNIC works closely with Twenty-Fourth Air Force on cyber issues.

In 2012 it was announced that AFNIC would be restructured, divesting some of its cyber mission to Air Force Space Command.[2] Current organize, train and equip staff functions within AFNIC, such as records, forms, publications, cyber training programs, cyber requirements support, plans, and maintenance policy, transferred to the AFSPC Cyberspace Support Squadron (CYSS), which stood up at Scott AFB.[3] Other functions transferred to the new 92d Information Operations Squadron and 38th Cyberspace Readiness Squadron.

Designations and Dates

Decorations and awards

Air Force Organizational Excellence Awards: 1 Jul 1984 – 30 Jun 1986; 1 Jul 1986 – 30 Jun 1988; 1 Jul 1988 – 30 Jun 1990; 1 Jul 1990 – 30 Jun 1992; 1 Jul 1992 – 30 Jun 1994; 1 Jul 1994 – 30 Jun 1996; 1 Apr 1997 – 30 Apr 1998; 1 Oct 2000 – 31 Mar 2002; 30 Apr 2002 – 30 Sep 2003; 1 Oct 2003 – 30 Sep 2004; 10 May 2005 – 30 Sep 2006; 1 Oct 2006 – 30 Sep 2008.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.afnic.af.mil
  2. ↑ Lead cyberspace tasks headed to Space Command, 15 May 2012, Air Force Times
  3. ↑ AFNIC cyberspace mission transfers to AF Space Command, 15 May 2012
  4. ↑ AFCA Lineage, accessed October 2009
  5. ↑ AFCA's historic change to AFNIC, AFSPC Public Affairs, 15 July 2009
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