NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- As the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference kicked off Sept. 22 near Washington, D.C., the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Special Agents were there to remind attendees that the future of U.S. air and space power depends on safeguarding innovation.
At this year’s conference, amid the noise of new hardware and programs, AFOSI’s message cut through with clarity. “The battle for air and space power begins before it reaches the battlefield,” said Special Agent Rory Swafford, AFOSI Futures and Strategy Cell division chief.
Rather than showcasing equipment, AFOSI used the conference to highlight how it’s shaping tomorrow’s force by defending innovation from foreign adversaries, educating the DAF community on counterintelligence risks and raising awareness of career opportunities for those who may one day serve as Special Agents.
“It’s important for us to be here and talk directly with the Department of the Air Force community,” Swafford said. “Our mission isn’t something just happening in the background, it requires awareness from across the force.”
Recruiting Special Agents
Alongside its technology protection mission, Special Agents used the conference to raise awareness about career opportunities within the agency.
They explained that recruiting is about more than immediate job filling, it’s about shaping a future force of enlisted, commissioned, and civilian professionals who bring professionalism and a commitment to national security.
“We’re always looking for the best of the Department of the Air Force,” said Special Agent Jennifer Holland, AFOSI 1811 recruiter. “Whether enlisted, commissioned, or civilian, learning about AFOSI is the first step for those interested in serving at a higher level and contributing directly to national security.”
But their effort extends beyond AFA. In recent months, AFOSI has been active at the Pentagon during National Insider Threat Awareness Month events, highlighting its insider threat mission and fostering personal connections across the DAF, Holland said.
“Events like these give us a chance to explain AFOSI’s mission and start conversations that could lead to future opportunities,” she said.
Later this month, AFOSI recruiters are scheduled to join the National Cybersecurity Virtual Career Fair, where attendees can learn about AFOSI’s cyber mission and explore future opportunities.
Raising awareness
Back at AFA, Special Agents also discussed how America’s adversaries are targeting U.S. innovation at every level, from startups seeking investment to satellites orbiting the Earth.
One topic discussed with attendees was that foreign intelligence services are actively targeting the U.S. space industry, which, according to the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), is projected to grow to more than $1 trillion by 2030.
According to Swafford, space assets underpin everything from banking and emergency response to agriculture, and adversaries are exploiting cyberattacks, counterfeit parts and supply chain weaknesses to gain the upper hand.
That warning is rooted in experience. Just weeks ago, Special Agents helped secure the launch of the X-37B, a reusable, unmanned spacecraft operated by the U.S. Space Force that conducts long-duration orbital missions to test advanced technologies.
By linking real-world operations like the X-37B with its outreach at AFA, Special Agents underscored for the DAF community that space dominance is impossible without technology protection.
The materials also stressed the human dimension, offering guidance on anomaly tracking, insider threat programs and foreign travel debriefs, all tools designed to counter the risk posed by insiders with access to sensitive systems.
By distributing these materials alongside the industry’s big-ticket displays, Swafford said, “Whether guarding satellites, vetting investors, or briefing researchers, AFOSI is a force multiplier of modernization.”