JBSA-Lackland -- JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – Gen. John W. Raymond, commander of Air Force Space Command, was formally introduced to the airmen and mission of 24th Air Force, Air Forces Cyber during a visit to Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland Dec. 5-6. Raymond was accompanied by Chief Master Sergeant Brendan Criswell, AFSPC command chief.
The two-day visit included presentations and demonstrations from 24th AF staff, 624th Operations Center, 67th Cyberspace Operations Group, 690th Network Support Squadron, 91st Cyberspace Operations Squadron (COS), 92 COS, 390 COS and a video teleconference with the 5th Combat Communications Group, Robins AFB, Georgia.
During the visit, Raymond hosted a Commander’s Call at the Bob Hope Theater at JBSA-Lackland, where 24th AF airmen had the opportunity to hear first-hand the General’s background and his way forward leading cyber and space.
“Growing up as a space operator, our focus was primarily on the satellite and what was happening in the space domain,” Raymond said. “It wasn’t until I served as the Director of Space Forces at Central Command that my view was inverted. It was no longer only about what was happening in space. It was more about the effects we create on the battlefield with both space and cyber operations.”
Raymond went on to explain his Initial Guidance and Intent, his charge to the men and women of AFSPC, sent out shortly after he became commander. His guiding principles include operating with a joint warfighting perspective, developing joint leaders, leading Air Force multi-domain operations, enhancing partnerships and strengthening AFSPC’s role as a service component to U.S. Strategic Command.
Not only did the general share his formal thoughts and expectations of taking command of Space and Cyber, he expressed his extreme appreciation, excitement and dedication in leading a new frontier of the world’s greatest Space and Cyberspace Total Force Airmen.
After a brief speech, Raymond accepted multiple questions from the audience. He also thanked Maj. Gen. Christopher Weggeman, 24 AF/AFCYBER commander, for his leadership of the Air Force’s cyber forces.