PACAF stands up Information Protection Directorate

Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
2/3/2010

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii -- As the cyberspace battlefield broadens, Pacific Air Forces leadership created the Directorate of Information Protection to effectively protect information across the enterprise.

The structure is mirrored at each wing across the area of responsibility.

The organization goal is to provide an enterprise-wide approach to prevent compromises, loss, unauthorized access, disclosure, destruction, distortion or non-accessibility of information over the life cycle of information and ensure commanders have effective processes and the right people in place to provide a focused, seamless, functional and supportive environment for protecting information at all levels to conduct effective air, space and cyberspace operations.

Information protection refers to the collective policies, processes and use of risk management and mitigation actions instituted to prevent the compromise, loss or unauthorized access of information over its life cycle, regardless of physical form or characteristics.

Information protection encompass multiple disciplines and programs, such as Information security, Personnel Security, Industrial Security, Physical Security, Security Education Training, Classification/Declassification management, Original Classification Authority training, Operation Security, Communication Security, Sensitive Compartmental Information, Special Programs, Technical Communication, Foreign Disclosure, Public Release, and Restricted Data.
These processes are executed through a collaborative established Security Advisor Groups at each installation.

"We want to change the culture of our personnel and make information protection methodologies routine and transparent to our business processes to correctly protect vital information on behalf of our warfighter," said Johnny Bland, PACAF/IP director. "Our goal is not only to protect sensitive information, controlled unclassified information and classified information, but to ensure every PACAF personnel understand the importance of protecting information. Information protection affects every PACAF active-duty member, Reservist, Guardsman, civil servant and contract employee, regardless of rank or position. We all have information protection responsibilities."

Senior leaders all agree that when Information protection staffs are fully mature, they will serve as a single entity to develop and execute policies and procedures to safeguard all levels and types of information using an enterprise-wide approach.

For more information, call DSN 449-2801/2802/2804.