Cyber Lobbying

Cyber Lobbying: Eighteen states have until July 1 to submit information to the Air Force that makes the case for why a location in their respective territory stands out and should host Air Force Cyber Command headquarters. But the winning location now likely will not be announced until September 2009, USAF said in a March 28 release that provides an update on the selection process. The Air Force’s original goal was to pick the permanent headquarters before AFCYBER formally stands up in October. That is no longer deemed possible. Instead USAF now intends to issue its call for the information by May 15. Once the responses are in, Air Force officials will visit each of the locations to meet with community and installation representatives. AFCYER will go combat-ready Oct. 1, operating from Barksdale AFB, La, on an interim basis. The short list of finalists to host the permanent HQ location should be out by the end of 2008, enabling the announcement of the winner by next September, USAF said. Bill Anderson, USAF’s assistant secretary for installations, recently sent a letter to the governors of the 18 states (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia), inviting their local communities to participate. His letter advises each state and local government against investment in infrastructure targeted to attract the mission, USAF said.