To help pave the way for future combat operations in the cyber domain, Eighth Air Force Commander Lt Gen. Robert Elder and his staff hosted a meeting at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, La on July 16-17 to bring together preeminent cyber science and technology experts from across the country.

This follows a recent study on Cyber Warfare conducted by the AF Scientific Advisory Board (AFSAB). Three members of the AFSAB participated in this 2-day Science and Technology Symposium.

The AFCYBER Command Science and Technology Symposium is a great forum for national laboratories and academia to collaborate with the Air Force command designated to conduct Cyberspace operations, General Elder said.

The initial two-day meeting introduced each organization in attendance, focusing on their capabilities and current research projects. Together, they addressed future possibilities to merge their knowledge and capabilities in accomplishing the Air Force mission to fly and fight in Cyberspace.

This was a great opportunity for us to share our knowledge and experience while forging a way ahead for AFCYBER. We were also able to capitalize on the strengths of the local community, said Col. Tony Buntyn, the Director of the Global Cyberspace Air Operations Center who facilitated the meeting.

Representatives from both Louisiana State University and Louisiana Tech University provided key briefings on innovative Cyber security research. Some of the new research briefed by Louisiana Tech in the area of strong authentication is already being shared with AFCYBER operators at Eighth Air Force and the Air Force research community.

Sharing information about key Cyber focus areas between organizations allows the Air Force to streamline and concentrate its research, said Mr. Brian Spink, of the Air Force Research Laboratory. The AFRL is responsible for facilitating the majority of Air Force-sponsored research.

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Contact: Dave Guerin
dguerin@latech.edu
318-257-4854
Louisiana Tech University
13-Aug-2007