361st ISRG hosts 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) commander Published June 15, 2021 By 363rd ISR Wing Public Affairs 361st Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Virginia -- Airmen from the 361st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group had the opportunity to host U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) commander, on his visit April 9, 2021 to Hurlburt Field, Florida. Haugh observed how Airmen from multiple units come together to organize, train and equip with timely, accurate and relevant situational awareness. “We showed Lt. Gen. Haugh how we seamlessly integrate with Air Force Special Operations Command,” said Maj. Albert Garcia, 361st ISRG Assistant Director of Operations. “He also saw how we make training as realistic as possible when the time comes to support special operations forces.” The visit gave Haugh the opportunity to speak with U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. James C. Slife, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, about AFSOC history and capabilities and allowed AFSOC senior leadership to show the unique challenges and mission requirements the major command faces while completing special operations worldwide. During the Senate Armed Services Committee emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee on April 28, 2021, Slife said “AFSOC’s guiding principle is that our human capital – our Airmen – are our competitive advantage. Our strategic advantage lies with our Airmen: disciplined professionals capable of complex problem solving, biased for independent initiative, with deep technical expertise in their specialties. As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic into the future operating environment, our Airmen are the competitive advantage we will need.” To meet the demands of the future, Airmen and commands will need to continue to transform. During the visit, the 25th Intelligence Squadron showcased their robust simulator that enables simulated airborne intelligence training in a classroom environment, reducing the need for more expensive and much sought after live, in-air training at a fraction of the cost. The 361 ISRG also demonstrated the function of (aircraft) emulators recently presented during Air Combat Command’s Spark Tank Competition. The Spark Tank initiative, Mercury West, provides a tailorable and exportable whole-crew training infrastructure while reducing legacy support requirements, overcoming fiscal constraints, and ensuring interoperability of innovative technologies to increase lethality in todays and tomorrow’s battlespace. Haugh is responsible for more than 48,000 personnel conducting worldwide operations. 16th Air Force Airmen deliver multi-source intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance products, applications, capabilities and resources. In addition, they build, extend, operate, secure and defend the Air Force portion of the Department of Defense global network. Furthermore, Joint Forces Headquarters-Cyber personnel perform operational planning as part of coordinated efforts to support Air Force component and combatant commanders and, upon approval of the President and/or Secretary of Defense, the execution of offensive cyberspace operations. The mission of 361st ISRG is to train warriors with the ethos, skills, and leadership to excel in joint special operations, and to excel as wingmen. The 361st creates leaders, forges strong and supportive families, and fosters an Air Commando culture by out-thinking, out-maneuvering, and out-innovating the adversary.
