The wing delivers information operations and engineering infrastructure for air, space, and cyberspace military operations. It supports national, joint and Air Force operations.
Component units
Unless otherwise indicated, units are based at Kelly Field Annex, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, and subordinate units are located at the same location as their commanding group. Wing Staff
In July 1953, United States Air Force Security Service organized the 6901st and 6902d Special Communications Centers at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. One month later, these two organizations were replaced by the Air Force Special Communications Center, located on the other side of San Antonio, Texas at Kelly Air Force Base. The center became the Air Force Electronic Warfare Center in July 1975. Air Force successes in exploiting enemy information systems during Operation Desert Storm led to the realization that the strategies and tactics of command and control warfare could be expanded to the entire information spectrum and be implemented as information warfare. In response, the center was redesignated the Air Force Information Operations Center on 10 September 1993, combining technical skill sets from the existing center with the Air Force Cryptologic Support Center's Securities Directorate and intelligence capabilities from the former Air Force Intelligence Command. In May 2007, after 54 years of being aligned with United States Air Force Security Service and its successors, the center became part of Air Combat Command and was reassigned to Eighth Air Force. This assignment did not last long, for in August 2009 the center was redesignated the 688th Information Operations Wing and was assigned to Twenty-Fourth Air Force of Air Force Space Command. The Air Force Information Operations Center became the 688th Information Operations Wing on 18 August 2009 as planned by the initial Air Force Cyber Command plan of 2007 and 2008. Today the wing has a staff of nearly 1,400 civil and military personnel, and based in the same location as United States Strategic Command's Joint Information Operations Warfare Center. It is currently commanded by Colonel Steven Anderson and is subordinate to Sixteenth Air Force.
Lineage
Designated on 24 July 1953 as the Air Force Special Communications Center
Redesignated Air Force Electronic Warfare Center on 1 July 1975
Redesignated Air Force Information Warfare Center on 10 September 1993
Redesignated Air Force Information Operations Center on 1 October 2006
Redesignated 688th Information Operations Wing on 18 August 2009
