Air Force officials in Washington yesterday announced possible locations for Air Force Global Strike Command and the 24th Air Force, a new numbered Air Force focused on the cyber mission.
The candidate bases for Global Strike Command are Barksdale AFB, La.; F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.; Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; Minot AFB, N.D.; Offutt AFB, Neb.; and Whiteman AFB, Mo.
According to a statement released by the service, the primary requirement for basing Global Strike Command is current performance of a strategic nuclear function. “Due to the uniqueness of the nuclear operations culture and the significant time required to develop personnel, processes and systems to create an operational environment which safely and reliably meets the extraordinary levels of precision engendered by such operations, all candidate bases must meet this overarching requirement,” the Air Force said.
A provisional Air Force Global Strike Command is currently located at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.
Meanwhile, the proposed bases for 24th Air Force are Barksdale AFB, La.; Lackland AFB, Texas; Langley AFB, Va.; Offutt AFB, Neb.; Peterson AFB, Colo.; and Scott AFB, Ill.
In choosing among the candidate locations, Air Force officials will consider “proximity to other cyber operational missions and access to scientific and technical expertise,” as well as “communication/bandwidth capabilities,” according to an Air Force press statement.
The Air Force intends to make a final selection on both bases by June.