AFSC 33S4, Staff
AFSC 33S3, Qualified
AFSC 33S1, Entry
Specialty Summary. Supports joint and service communications and information (comm and info) requirements. Implements and conducts comm and info unit operations. Conducts defensive information operations. Manages communications related plans, acquisitions, architectures, information resources, postal operations, comm and info engineering efforts, and Air Force visual information (VI) needs. Supports force employment planning, execution, and combat assessment. Conducts deployed communications operations. Plans, develops, engineers, and maintains comm and info architectures and standards. Develops programs to perform Air Force, joint, and allied missions. Performs operations and maintenance of VI activities. Provides executive officer support. Related DoD Occupational Group: 4C.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Provides information operations capabilities and delivers the global information grid: Supports commanders and Joint Task Forces (JTF) with command and control communications, computer support, information resources management, postal operations, and air traffic systems maintenance. Operates and administers networks. Plans, engineers, installs, and maintains capability to collect, process, disseminate, and use information. Assures timeliness, accuracy, reliability, non-reputability, verifiability, and security of information while denying the adversary's ability to do the same. Provides military commanders an integrated and interactive picture of mission areas.
Conducts strategic planning. Develops and writes Air Force, joint service, and combined comm and info plans, programs, and policies. Coordinates plans to ensure coherent planning efforts. Provides input to the planning, programming, and budgeting system. Programs facility, equipment, funding, material, and manpower resources.
Responsible for systems and communications architectures supporting operational needs. Translates system operational concepts, requirements, architectures, and designs into detailed engineering specifications and criteria. Designs, builds, manages, and maintains distributed networking and computing systems.
Plans and organizes comm and info acquisition life cycle management activities. Manages cost, schedules, performance, and support of procurement programs.
Directs information life cycle management. Develops and implements policy and standards to manage information throughout its life cycle. Applies data administration concepts for efficient and economical use of accurate, timely, and sharable information. Analyzes mission requirements. Uses business process reengineering methodologies (e.g. process, data, and activity modeling; activity-based costing; and functional economic analysis) to assess capabilities, establish priorities, and formulate plans for comm and info processes.
Leads VI functions and activities. Develops VI products to support readiness and training applications. Trains, equips, and leads deployment teams and acquires imagery for operational reporting, decision making, and historical record. Manages processing and exploitation of armament delivery recording (ADR) for operational requirements. Programs resources to meet VI requirements supporting scientific laboratory testing, weapons effects studies, tactics evaluations, combat documentation, and operation of television facilities and systems.
Leads staff support activities. Provides management and command advisory assistance. Coordinates specialized information collection, production, and presentation. Directs and coordinates executive functions, services, and activities. Represents commander in interaction with other agencies.
Performs engineering functions. Develops and engineers architectures for comm and info systems. Provides engineering support to develop detailed hardware, software, and firmware design. Coordinates systems matters with research and development, logistics, civil engineering, and other support agencies during definition, procurement, and acceptance of systems facilities and equipment.
Develops and implements information technology (IT) capital planning investment and control program strategies. Acts as functional consultant for the integration of operational, systems, and technical architectures. Provides and interprets federal, DoD, Air Force, and MAJCOM guidance on procedures, policies, and standards. Supervises information engineering analysts in developing, implementing, and overseeing corporate enterprise architectures.
