Leading Air Force Cyber Warriors: Cyber Wing Commander Competencies

December 3, 2025

Leading Air Force Cyber Warriors: Cyber Wing Commander Competencies

Allan E. Day | 2020

Abstract

This study of essential leader competencies and critical leader development needs for Air Force cyber wing commanders was vital for understanding how to recruit, select, and develop future cyber wing commanders. As the executive-level strategic leaders who are on the front lines of the hotly contested cyber warfare domain, Air Force cyber wing commanders must have the relevant competencies to be successful in carrying out this most critical mission for the security of the United States and support of its allies. With no empirical studies in the literature focused on the leader competencies or developmental needs of Air Force cyber wing commanders, this study purposely began to fill that void. The participants (N = 22) in this study were selected from a pool of experts (N = 23) who were currently serving or had served previously as Air Force cyber wing (or equivalent) commanders. The online Delphi facilitated by Codigital Limited’s crowdsourcing platform allowed the anonymous interaction and engagement of dispersed participants who engaged in an online forum to submit ideas, suggest revisions to other participants’ contributions, and vote ideas up or down using a pairwise methodology. The results of this study showed a broad correlation to the Air Force foundational competencies with the following competencies showing strongest correlation: information seeking, communication, strategic thinking (planning), influence, creative thinking, resource management, leadership, initiative, fostering innovation, teamwork, and decision-making. The Delphi panel of experts consistently highlighted a critical competency and developmental need for expertise, literacy, and currency in cyber law and legal and ethical boundaries for future cyber wing commanders. This competency was not part of the most current cyberspace officer development guidance. The researcher recommended the Air Force consider developing cyber law curricula and providing refresher courses on legal and ethical boundaries for future cyber wing commanders.

Keywords: online Delphi, leadership, leader competencies, leader development, cyber warfare, cyber warrior, cyber law, wing commander

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