New York lawmakers press Air Force for cyber squadron

New York legislators from both chambers of Congress on Tuesday urged the Air Force to establish one of four planned cyber operations squadrons in New York.

{mosads}Citing New York’s status as “our country’s No. 1 terror target,” New York lawmakers, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) and Reps. Richard Hanna (R) and Steve Israel (D) pressed for the creation of an Air National Guard Cyber Operations Squadron in the state.

The lawmakers emphasized New York’s cybersecurity education opportunities in a letter to Air National Guard Director Lt. General Stanley Clarke III and U.S. Cyber Command Commander Adm. Michael Rogers.

“I’m urging the Air National Guard and U.S. Cyber Command to establish a Cyber Operations Squadron here in New York,” Gillibrand said in a statement. “In addition to being a top terror target, New York has the strong academic and cyber defense infrastructure and the skilled workforce necessary to make it an ideal place to locate and grow a Cyber Squadron.”

The three New York legislators join lawmakers from other states who have urged the Air Force to name their state as home to one of the new squadrons.

A coalition of Virginia lawmakers led by Sens. Mark Warner (D) and Tim Kaine (D) pressed Clarke to place one of the squadrons at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton Roads.

“Hampton Roads provides a compelling combination of affordability, high quality public education and quality of service for the Airmen and civilians who will execute this mission,” the lawmakers wrote in December.