DISA empowers future workforce to stay ahead of adversaries

By Devon L. Suits, Office of Strategic Communication and Public Affairs

As the current global environment and cyber domain remain more dynamic and complex than ever, the Defense Information Systems Agency plays a critical role in defending the U.S. and its allies against an ever-evolving threat from nation states like Russia, North Korea and China.

To be successful, Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner, DISA director and JFHQ-DODIN commander, must ensure his workforce is enabled to defend the global network today and into the future. The agency must remain vigilant as it bolsters and protects the U.S. military and Department of Defense's data network against various threats across an ever-changing cyber landscape.

“We want to stay in the competition phase [with state actors,] but we also have to be ready to transition to crisis or conflict,” Skinner said during the 2023 Rocky Mountain Cyberspace Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In turn, DISA must continue to posture and prepare itself for the next challenge, Skinner added. To ensure future success, DISA will empower its workforce to provide secure and reliable communications and information technologies supporting the warfighter near and far.?

Mission success, he said, goes beyond the latest and greatest technologies. There is also a need for a “mission first — people always” mindset.

“What I would caution everyone is, if you only focus on the technology … and if you forget about the people who need to execute, then we will be no better than where we are today,” Skinner said.

During the symposium, Skinner was joined by Air Force Brig. Gen. Heather W. Blackwell, the director of cyberspace and information dominance and chief information officer, Headquarters Air Combat Command.

Blackwell emphasized proper training over a constant push for current and future state-of-the-art technologies. Success, she said, is built when proper tactics, techniques and procedures are put into motion before the employment of a new capability.

Skinner’s plan to prepare for future battles comes in the form of a developing workforce initiative that focuses on enhancing the skills and talents of current employees as well as hiring and onboarding new talent with the intent of investing in their professional development throughout their careers.

“If you don't have the underlying [mission] of taking care of people and making sure that they are educated and trained … then we are doing a disservice to our people,” Skinner said.

The director also recognized the impact on workforce accountability caused by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which most of the workforce moved to a hybrid or remote work environment. Skinner called for a needed change and reemphasized the need to stay accountable and put the mission first to achieve the agency’s goals.

As the DISA director, Skinner manages a global network of more than 20,000 service members, civilians and contractors who provide defense communications solutions to the president, Department of Defense, secretary of defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant commanders. As the JFHQ-DODIN commander, he oversees the security of the data and communications network that supports more than 200,000 warfighters in 150 countries.

Skinner added that while the workforce remains a vital element directly tied DISA’s success, partnerships with allies and industry are also necessary to further DISA’s mission. To stay ahead of the evolving cyber challenges, DISA looks for new and improved ways to instill interoperability at all levels, from strategic to the tactical edge.??

“Just as important is our defense industrial base,” he said. “How do we ensure we have the right partnerships to posture for the future?”

Visit DISA.mil for more news and agency updates.

CORRECTION: In this article we referred to DISA and JFHQ-DODIN as a “joint agency,” which is not accurate. DISA is an agency. JFHQ-DODIN is a command.