Air Force Chief of Staff Nominee Vows Continued Focus on Cyber Readiness

Gen. David Allvin, the White House nominee to serve as the U.S. Air Force chief of staff, has pledged to advance cyber force readiness efforts if he is confirmed.

Allvin, the current Air Force vice chief of staff, wrote to lawmakers ahead of his confirmation hearing that the service would continuously undertake enterprise-wide reviews to ensure cyber forces have appropriate training. He noted plans to put airmen involved in cyber activities on consecutive tours to grow their expertise.

Writing in response to Congress members’ queries, Allvin asserted that while the Department of Defense cannot match private-sector salaries, it will be able to attract skilled personnel passionate about serving the nation. He mentioned that the Air Force identified areas in the development track of such airmen requiring improvements to training quality and cyber mission force placement.

Allvin wrote that the Air Force is working to close the pay gap with industry by adding $1,500 to the salaries of CMF members in critical roles in addition to the special duty assignment pay given to cyber personnel. Such airmen are expected to rise to the SDAP program’s highest pay grade in fiscal year 2024, DefenseScoop reported Friday.