The aim of the event is to improve the military’s knowledge of advances in technology and exchange experiences with American military personnel.
Air Force Agency, by Lieutenant Gabrielle Varela
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB), through the General Staff of the Air Force (EMAER) and the Directorate of Information Technology (DTI), held the Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) on Cyber Defense and Security with the United States Air Force (USAF), represented by the 12th Air Force (AFSOUTH) and the New York Air National Guard (NYANG), from April 15 to 19.
The event took place in Brasilia (DF) and included representatives from the Aerospace Operations Command (COMAE), the Airspace Control Department (DECEA), EMAER, DTI, the Brasilia Aeronautics Computing Center (CCA-BR) and the Aeronautics Cyber Defense Center (NuCDCAER), as well as the Cyber Defense Command (ComDCiber) and the Cyber Defense Center (CDCiber). The target audience was military personnel working in the cyber area.
The exchange aimed to discuss topics such as Brazilian participation in cyber defense exercises; increasing capabilities; developing the workforce, as well as strengthening the cyber defense partnership between the USAF, NYANG, FAB and ComDCiber.
In addition to the FAB speakers, USAF spokespeople also gave presentations on technological topics, including: Defense in Depth; Network Defense; Intel Cyber Threat; Cyber Workforce Development; Structure and Organization of Cyber Defense in the USAF; Cyber activities during training operations; Cyber Security (Risk Management), among other topics.
The event’s coordinator, Colonel Fernando Rodrigues de Sá, explained the importance of investing in personnel training, especially in conjunction with the USAF. “In 2024, the CDCAER is scheduled to be activated and the first Cyber Defense exercise will be held during Cruzex [Cruzeiro do Sul Exercise], so exchanging knowledge and experiences with the USAF is fundamental to fulfilling our mission,” he said.
The Head of the Aeronautics Cyber Defense Center, Lieutenant Colonel Tiago Josué Diedrich, highlighted the significant contribution that the United States can offer Brazil in the sphere of cyber defense. “It was noted that the US, being one of the countries most frequently targeted by cyber attacks, has highly elaborate and established methodologies and processes, which are implemented in continuous and real-time operations. The relentless nature of cyber requires a constant capacity to respond and adapt. The United States has already developed and perfected skills in this area, which are still being developed in Brazil. In addition, they have explored and refined strategies for the effective mobilization of the cyber force in operational contexts. Therefore, the main objective in the interaction with the US is the assimilation and integration of these advanced capabilities into national practices,” he explained.
For one of the USAF representatives at the event, Captain Zachery Butler, this was an opportunity to strengthen ties between the two countries. “We are extremely grateful for the hospitality of our Brazilian hosts. We intend to increase our relations and cooperation in the Cyberspace Domain, learning from each other as both our Air Forces grow. It was an immense pleasure to learn from our FAB colleagues and discuss these important cyber defense issues with them. We look forward to more engagements and opportunities to work together in the future,” he said.
CDCAER
The activation of the Aeronautics Cyber Defense Center (CDCAER), scheduled for June this year, aims to plan, execute, control and supervise activities related to Cyber Protection, Exploitation and Attack, within the scope of the Aeronautics Command (COMAER).
CDCAER’s idea is for the Brazilian Air Force to keep up with technological developments and the speed with which information spreads across the web. Based on an extensive study carried out by the Air Force General Staff (EMAER), the structure of the cyber area has been implemented in phases until it reaches effective activation, consolidated and dedicated to providing all the coordination, supervision, management and, finally, governance of everything that is Cyber Defense throughout the COMAER structure.
Photos: Sergeant Mônica / CECOMSAER *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***