MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- In today’s multi-domain era of technologically advanced warfare, innovation is paramount to keeping Airmen safe as they defend the nation.
At the third Installation & Mission Support Weapons and Tactics (I-WEPTAC) conference, held April 10, 2019 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, forward-thinking solutions were presented to solve current and future issues in regards to the rapid advancement of multi-domain operations.
“What’s great about I-WEPTAC is that it’s a forum for innovation,” said Maj. Gen. Brad Spacy, the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Commander at JBSA-Lackland. “Our goal is to get ideas from our Airmen into action and we know the ideas are out there since our Airmen are coming up with them.”
One idea was presented by MacDill’s own, Maj. Jay Bateman, the 6th Security Forces Squadron Director of Operations. He developed how to maintain an installation’s continuity of operations during a multi-domain fight.
“I briefed how to use installation command and control (C2) as a weapon system during a multi-domain conflict,” said Bateman. “It is a comprehensive solution that covers installation C2 concepts, a common operating picture and a new C2 structure to ensure continuity of operations in a multi-domain fight.”
C2 is the exercise of authority by a properly designated commander over all assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission.
During Bateman’s briefing, Gen. David Goldfein, the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Gen. Steve Wilson, the Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Forcem were in attendance among other senior leaders who determine the best course of direction for the U.S. Air Force.
Goldfein has emphasized in the past that multi-domain operations is one of the top focuses of the USAF.
“Multi-domain operations is really about thinking through how we penetrate, where we need to penetrate and how we protect what we need to protect inside a contested space; how we persist in that environment for the period of time that we have to remain there,” said Goldfein. “Our multi-domain C2 structure directing operations will be resilient and operationally agile.”
Bateman’s briefing covered thousands of pages of research compiled over four months with a team of 68 technical experts over 25 different AF career fields to identify and resolve inefficiencies with non-material solutions.
“It’s exciting to see our recommendations are going forward for evaluation and potential implementation into how we operate,” said Bateman.
Through forward-thinking that addresses present and future threats in a multi-domain operations environment, the USAF is ensuring it remains on the leading edge of combat capability to fight the battles of today and tomorrow.