In addition to providing intelli-gence to theater commanders for con-tingencies,
the 94th IS is using the C-ROFA to expand the boundaries of
information operations for the Air In-telligence Agency.
During Joint Task Force Exercise 97- 2, with the U. S. Navy in July, the
94th IS demonstrated the unique ca-pabilities of C- ROFA.
The commander of the Third Fleet thanked the 94th for demonstrating,
for the first time, the effectiveness of including new intelligence sources into
C- ROFA becomes arsenal of IO
by Tech. Sgt. Mark Harlfinger
94th IS
Fort George Meade, Md.
Evolves into the perfect capability to deal with the growing
number of no- notice crises, reducing ops tempo for analysts
T senal for information operations is the Consolidated Remote Operations Facility, Airborne. C- ROFA became the central hub
for U. S. Virtual Collection Operation in December 1996.
During the first eight months of 1997, the 94th Intelligence Squadron
demonstrated the value- added partici-pation of the C- ROFA in ongoing con-tingencies
around the globe. It proved to be the perfect information opera-tions
capability to deal with the grow-
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9
C- ROFA's information processors.
the sea- based joint task force commander's tactical picture.
The success of Reverse Eagle Reach testing with the C- ROFA in
August foreshadows the promise of this new technology to reduce the
operations tempo of deployments. Now intelligence can be provided to
the analysts at their home base in-stead of the analysts deploying else-where
to the collection platforms. As the C- ROFA concept expands
to other areas, this will improve the quality of life for many people who
are currently faced with an endless cycle of deployments.
With the C- ROFA and Virtual Collection Operation, there will no
longer be a need to deploy hundreds of analysts to a theater to support
operations. The C- ROFA allows the Air Force to provide Agile Combat
Support while improving quality of life by reducing the number of de-ployments.
The Temporary Remote Opera-tions Facility, the predecessor of C-ROFA
was created to meet the intelli-gence demands of Operation Desert
Storm in February 1991. The concept was validated in the
years following Desert Storm when the T- ROFA supplied near- real time
information to warfighters and deci-sion- makers in many of the world's
hotspots. The "temporary" T- ROFA lasted more than five years.
This proved so successful that sup-port for a permanent facility within
the National Security Agency grew. Members from NSA's deputy direc-torates
of Operations, Technology and Programs, as well as key civilian con-tractors
began building the C- ROFA using new, cutting- edge technology
used by T- ROFA for performance and proof- of- concept operations.
Members of the 94th IS and 694th Intelligence Group incorporated re-quirements
in the design process to make C- ROFA an example of the kind
of joint cooperation needed to face the challenges of the 21st century.
While built by and located in NSA,
AIA retains operational control be-cause of its mission. AIA has delegated
this responsibility to the 94th IS, its only operational squadron at Fort
George Meade, Md. As a result, the 94th ensures the
C- ROFA can bring to the joint table information important to the
warfighters and decision- makers. Although the 94th IS is currently
using the C- ROFA to support Opera-tions Joint Guard and Silver Wake,
the C- ROFA is designed to support and handle up to six simultaneous
joint military operations around the world. By leveraging the intelligence
resources located at NSA, the 94th can use the C- ROFA to respond nearly
immediately to any hotspot around the globe.
This unique capability provides decisive advantages to collecting, ana-lyzing
and understanding unexpected challenges and provides the joint team
with dominant battlefield awareness. Effective combat support opera-tions
allow combat commanders to improve responsiveness, deployability
and sustainability of their forces to substitute responsiveness for massive
deployed inventories. The C- ROFA addresses this prob-
lem by providing Virtual Collection Operations.
Virtual Collection Operations in-volves the remote collection of infor-mation
sent to analysts separated by thousands of miles to conduct a coor-dinated
exploitation of the informa-tion as a unified team under the con-trol
of one supervisor. The C- ROFA refines and hones
this technological achievement that has been in practice for more than a
year by the 94th using the T- ROFA to support a current contingency opera-tion.
The vital importance of VCO can-not be overstated for today's Air Force.
The twin forces of the military downsizing in the post- Cold War era
at the same time of endless contin-gency operations of the new world
order have placed an increased de-mand on our dwindling personnel
resources. The C- ROFA is a perfect tool for
the Air Force's new strategic vision for the 21st century of Global Engage-ment.
As the U. S. hub for VCO, it dem-onstrates that AIA is no longer just a
supporter of warfighter operations, but also a crucial participant.
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December 1997 10
he Air Force stood up its first information operations group at mander, presided over the ceremony. Many of the roles and missions
performed by 690th members will re-main the same, but they will have a
refined emphasis on gaining, exploit-ing and defending assets in the infor-mation
domain of operations. The 690th is organized to perform
these missions within three squadrons, the 690th Intelligence Support Squad-ron,
the 690th Computer Systems Squadron and the 690th Information
Operations Squadron. The 690th ISS, commanded by
Maj. Rebecca Abraham, provides two components of information superior-ity
consistent with Joint Vision 2010- information systems and defensive in-formation
operations. The squadron provides day- to- day
operations and maintenance support of C4I systems supporting HQ AIA,
and many other units at the Security Hill complex. It provides printing,
photography, videography, and graphic arts services for warfighters through-out
the Air Force. Additionally, the squadron conducts defensive informa-tion
operations of highly classified Air Force and AIA systems worldwide.
The 690th CSS, commanded by Lt. Col. Alma Miller, designs, devel-ops,
engineers, installs and performs project management for systems that
span the entire spectrum of computer platforms and software development
environments. The 690th CSS is dedicated to cre-
ating secure information architectures through development, engineering,
and implementation services serving AIA, national agencies, and informa-tion
operators throughout the Air Force.
The 690th IOS, commanded by Lt. Col. David Castillo, is on the tip of the
sword of information operations and relevant information. It minimizes in-complete,
inaccurate, or untimely in-formation by conducting situational
awareness monitoring and briefings, Cyberwatch activities and "reachback"
connectivity. The Cyberwatch activities focus on
providing Information Warfare indi-cations and warning of foreign na-tions'
abilities to conduct information attacks against the United States and
its allies. The reachback connectivity to Numbered Air Forces provides em-bedded
AIA people an information life-line, enabling them to "reachback" to
AIA to answer questions. The 690th IOS, as "information brokers," is well
postured with the latest communica-tion and computer technologies to meet
the increasing demands of Air Force operators worldwide.
The 690th IOG is uniquely posi-tioned to gain, exploit and defend in
both information- based operations and the information domain of operations.
Together, these three squadrons will enable the 690th IOG to press on to-wards
the 21st century and realize the goals of Joint Vision 2010.
Agency stands up first Information
Operations Group
690th Information Operations Squadron.
by Capt. Douglas Halsell
690th ISS
Kelly Air Force Base, Texas
T Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 20. Col. Gary Davis assumed com-mand of the 690th Information Opera-tions Group, continuing the distin-guished
legacy of the 690th Electronic Security Group and the Intelligence
Systems Group. Brig. Gen. James Miller, Air Intelligence Agency com-Col.
Gary Davis, commander of the 690th
IOG, presents the 690th Intelligence Support
Squadron flag to Maj. Rebecca Abraham.
photo by Gloria Trevino
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q Sixth grader saves two
by Ed Shannon
46th SW/ PA
Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
Nelson Kerr, a 6th grader, rescued a father and son adrift in their rubber raft on the Banana River, Oct. 7. The
12- year- old Patrick resident swam to the pair on his surfboard with a 30-
foot rope and pulled them to shore. "I don't consider myself a hero,"
Kerr said. "I just wanted to do a good deed."
Kerr's father said he and Nelson were fishing with a neighbor from
the river bank near their home, when Nelson noticed the man and his son
waving at them. "They were way out on the river
and because it was getting dark, we had to get binoculars to see them
waving at us," said Staff Sgt. Jim Kerr, who's assigned to the Air Force
Technical Applications Center. Kerr told his son to stay put while
he ran home to get the boat, but he didn't. "When I returned with the
boat, Nelson was almost halfway back with them," Kerr said.
"We're really proud of him," Kerr said. "His mom just about cried when
she saw he was pulling those folks in. We've always tried to raise our
children to respect others and to be courteous, helpful and friendly.
I wouldn't recommend he do it
q Birthday blast The Joint Command
and Control Warfare Cen-ter, Kelly Air Force Base,
Texas, celebrated the U. S. Marine Corp's 222nd
birthday Nov. 7. Cpl. Timothy Farais
presents cake to Col. Frank Goral, JC2WC
commander.
again, but I was too proud to be upset with him."
Classmates and teachers pre-sented Nelson with clips from a local
newspaper, and the school's princi-pal, Hartzel Jennings, gave Nelson a
certificate with a special message that read:
"Because of you, our school is a
better place to learn. You have proven
to me by your actions that one person
can make a difference. I applaud you for
what you have accomplished and look
forward to hearing even more great
things about you in the future."
q Change of command Maj. Donna Schutzius assumed
command of the newly formed 668th Logistics Squadron during ceremo-nies
at Kelly Air Force Base, Oct. 8. Schutzius comes to Kelly from
serving as the deputy commander of Operations, 34th Education Squad-ron,
U. S. Air Force Academy, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
The recently activated squadron consists of 200 people. "Building a
unit from scratch isn't easy," said Brig. Gen. Regner Rider, Air Intelli-gence
Agency vice commander. "There are many obstacles to con-quer.
The people have made the 668th a reality," the general added.
In remarks, Schutzius said she viewed her position as commander
"as the one who takes care of the people who take care of the mission.
q Pinning on new rank Lt. Col. John D'Auria, director of
Security, 497th Intelligence Group, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington
D. C.; Senior Master Sgt. Bill Burke, Air Intelligence Agency reservist as-signed
to the 497th IG, Pentagon, Washington D. C.; and Rocky
Graziano, chief, Special Programs and Information Warfare Division, Na-tional
Air Intelligence Center, Bolling, were all promoted on Aug. 29.
The old information warriors from New Jersey met while assigned
to elements of AIA. D'Auria and Burke did their time
in the Air Force before leaving to become New Jersey detectives, how-ever,
their paths did not cross until they were assigned to the 497th IG.
D'Auria was out of the service for 13 years before returning to the Air
Force, while Burke took a 17- year break before joining the Reserves.
Graziano, promoted to GS- 15, has known Burke for four years and has
recently become close friends with D'Auria. Burke asked Graziano and
D'Auria to assist him in pinning on his current rank during the promo-tion
ceremony.
Lt. Col.. John D'Auria and Rocky Graziano
help pin on Senior Master Sgt. Bill Burke's
new rank.
I am here to serve you and the United States Air Force."
Schutzius succeeds Maj. Elizabeth Sweeney, who is retiring Feb. 1.
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