The Cyber Command clock is already ticking for Ark-La-Tex officials. Almost every day, Cyber Innovation Center Director Craig Spohn is asked when will the Air Force announce its decision. Spohn says that decision is important, but not critical.
"We don't have to wait for an announcement from the Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne to start the clock," said Spohn.
Spohn says much of the Air Force's cyber warfare mission is already based at Barksdale and isn't likely that the base will lose it. Barksdale's already home to the Network Operations Center that runs the Air Force's computers and the Cyber Combat Development Center officers prepare for future conflicts in cyberspace.
This is how it works:
- The Combat Development Center comes up with potential problems.
- Civilian researchers develop the technology to solve them.
- That technology is then sold to the military and then hopefully for civilian use.
"We're working, head down, shoulder to the wheel, day in day out on Cyber Combat Development Center related initiatives and cyber mission objectives because that's what's going on at Barksdale presently," said Spohn.
Eighth Air Force General Robert Elder says the real economic boom won't come from Cyber Command headquarters, which will mean only about 500 jobs. The jobs will come with the private companies developing the software that will be used by Cyber Command. That would mean thousands of jobs both here and around the country.
"The component that stimulates the research and development, that builds a knowledge based economy is a part of our community today," said Spohn.
That's why work is progressing on the new Cyber Innovation Center. It's the first building of the Cyber Research Park which is being built on Highway 80 next to Barksdale. Once it's done there will be others. That's because officials say no matter who gets the biggest chunk of Cyber Command, there will be lots of jobs to go around.
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