The Air Force has activated the 659th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group at Ft. Meade, Md., to support 24th Air Force, USAF’s cyber operations arm at Lackland AFB, Tex. The group falls under the command of the Air Force ISR Agency’s 70th ISR Wing at Lackland. The group’s more than 400 members will perform digital network exploitation analysis and provide digital network intelligence. They will also support the National Security Agency. “Our warfighters in the field have never needed the capabilities of the men and women of the 659th more than they need them today,” said Col. Peter Lambert, the group’s commander, during the Sept. 8 activation ceremony. The 659th’s 7th Intelligence Squadron is at Ft. Meade, while its 35th IS is located at Lackland. Ft. Meade is the home of US Cyber Command, which 24th AF supports. (Fort Meade report by Capt. Karoline Scott)
The Pentagon abruptly relieved Air Force Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, and his NSA civilian deputy, Wendy Noble, on April 3.