16th Air Force and Netherland Defense Cyber Command Accelerate Cyber Integration

  • Published
  • By 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO – LACKLAND, Texas --  Modern conflict transcends traditional boundaries. To meet this challenge, leadership from the 16th Air Force and the Netherlands Defence Cyber Command met during a Key Leader Engagement to accelerate bilateral cyber integration, Aug 4.

Building upon the existing operational relationship, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas Hensley, commander, 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), and Maj. Gen. Van Den Berg, commander of the Netherlands Defence Cyber Command, emphasized that collaboration in cyberspace delivers an asymmetric advantage and serves as a strategic force multiplier that adversaries cannot match.

“Dominating the modern battlespace requires that collective cyber resilience be our foundation,” said Hensley. “We are actively accelerating our joint cyber integration with trusted allies like the Netherlands to disrupt adversary operations before they can threaten our networks.”

Maj. Gen. Van Den Berg agreed, noting that traditional boundaries no longer apply to modern digital conflict.

“Cyberspace demands that we move past passive deterrence toward an active, persistent defense forward,” said Van Den Berg. “By integrating our capabilities with trusted partners like the 16th Air Force, we cultivate cyber as a unified operational domain capable of securing our alliance against threats.”

The engagement focused heavily on coalition resilience, information sharing, and the cyber partnerships that underpin national defense and mission assurance. The leaders agreed that to counter rapidly evolving global threats, maintaining an information advantage requires constant vigilance and continuous international collaboration.

The commanders addressed key areas for future collaboration, setting the stage for deeper strategic and tactical alignment between the two nations.

Hensley emphasized that collaborating with highly capable NATO allies like the Netherlands enables continuous synchronization allowing the joint forces to disrupt the adversary’s long-range kill chain. He further noted that the integration of robust cyber architectures, shared intelligence on adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures, and joint operational concepts serve as critical components for both survival and dominance on the modern battlefield. 

Both commands maintain a clear priority: own the cyber battlespace.

Established in 2014, the Netherlands Defence Cyber Command (Defensie Cyber Commando) integrates digital capabilities into the broader operational framework of the Dutch Armed Forces. The command is responsible for defending the networks and weapon systems of the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, conducting intelligence operations in the digital domain, and executing offensive cyber operations to neutralize adversarial threats. By operating seamlessly across land, sea, air, and space domains, the DCC ensures the digital resilience and operational effectiveness of the Netherlands and its NATO allies.

Headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, 16th Air Force is responsible for the Air Force’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission and capabilities; operationalizing weather forecasting for the joint force; leading the cryptologic activities of the Department; operating and defending the Department’s information network; and commanding and controlling the joint forces assigned by U.S. Cyber Command to execute offensive and defensive cyberspace operations that protect national interests and project combat power. Additionally, 16 AF provides critical warfighting expertise and organizational combat support to the execution of the Department’s kill chains, and the disruption of our adversaries’ attempt to do the same. Operationally, 16th Air Force creates decisive advantages for the joint warfighter while simultaneously defending U.S. forces’ command and control (C2) capabilities from adversary disruption. 16th Air Force’s operational footprint includes approximately 45,000 Total Force Airmen spanning 123 locations globally with missions that support all 11 combatant commands.