The United States Air Force's 688th Information Operations Wing is an Information Operations unit located at Lackland AFB, Texas.
It was a redesignation of the Air Force Information Operations Center (AFIOC) on August 18, 2009 as planned by the initial Air Force Cyber Command plan in 2007-2008.
The 688 IOW originally activated as the 6901st Special Communications Center in July 1953. The following month, the 6901st redesignated as the Air Force Special Communications Center. It became the Air Force Electronic Warfare Center (AFEWC) 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 (C2W) could be expanded to the entire information spectrum and be implemented as information warfare. In response, the AFIOC activated 10 September 1993, combining technical skill sets from the former AFEWC with the Air Force Cryptologic Support Center's Securities Directorate and intelligence capabilities from the former Air Force Intelligence Command.
Today 688 IOW has a staff of 1,000 civil and military personnel, and based in the same location as United States Strategic Command's Joint Information Operations Warfare Center the 688 IOW carries out the functions of a center of excellence with regards to information operations. It is currently commanded by Colonel Paul Welch and is subordinate to Twenty-Fourth Air Force.
Read more about 688th Information Operations Wing: Subordinate Units
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