Air Force Cyber Command ( Provisional ) Air Force Cyber Command ( Provisional ) ( AFCYBER ( P ) ) was a proposed United States Air Force Major Command that existed only in provisional status . On 6 October 2008 , the Air Force announced that the command would not be brought into permanent activation , and that the cyber mission would be transferred , with the standup of the Twenty - Fourth Air Force , to Air Force Space Command . Overview . The development of AFCYBER was announced by the Secretary of the Air Force on 2 November 2006 . Originally designated to stand up around Summer 2007 , but pushed back to late - 2008 , AFCYBER was planned to draw upon the personnel resources of the 67th Network Warfare Wing as well as other resources of the Eighth Air Force . It was planned to be placed under the command of Major General William T . Lord . Former Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne summarized the mission of AFCYBER : The aim was to develop a major command that stands alongside Air Force Space Command and Air Combat Command as the provider of forces that the President , combatant commanders and the American people can rely on for preserving the freedom of access and commerce , in air , space and now cyberspace . On 14 August 2008 , the Air Force made a statement about a pause in standing up the AFCYBER command , which was set for 1 October 2008 . The Air Force remains committed to providing full - spectrum cyber capabilities to include global command and control , electronic warfare and network defense . The Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force have considered delaying currently planned actions on Air Force Cyber Command to allow ample time for a comprehensive assessment of all AFCYBER requirements and to synchronize the AFCYBER mission with other key Air Force initiatives . The new Air Force leaders continue to make a fresh assessment of all our efforts to provide our Nation and the joint force the full spectrum of air , space , and cyberspace capabilities . On 8 October 2008 , the Air Force followed up on its previous findings and decided to place AFCYBER as a Numbered Air Force within Air Force Space Command . On Wednesday , 19 August 2009 , the 24th Air Force was stood up , following an environmental impact analysis as required by law . Bases in contention for AFCYBER Headquarters . This is the final list of Air Force bases that were in competition to host the Cyber Command headquarters , listed alphabetically by state : On 14 May 2009 , the Air Force announced that Lackland AFB in San Antonio , Texas , " has been selected as headquarters of the 24th Air Force , the Air Force ' s downgraded version of its provisional Cyber Command . " However , it was also reported that " continued separate armed services cyber operations exist under a cloud of uncertainty . . . in light of recent reports that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is considering creation of a multi - service Cyber Command to be based at Fort Meade , Md . " Proposed Organization . Groups . TBD Lineage . Upon formal activation , AFCYBER hoped to trace its lineage to the Strategic Air Command ( SAC ) . Re - designation of SAC to AFCYBER would have resurrected a lineage that began in World War II and a heritage that embodies the Core Values of the Air Force : Integrity First , Service before Self , and Excellence in All We Do . The " recycling " of the SAC emblem was a source of controversy , as many veterans expressed the opinion that the historic and storied SAC emblem should simply remain a piece of Air Force history , and that the new Cyber Command should create its own emblem rather than try to piggy - back on the work of the venerable Cold War command . See also . United States Cyber Command