QUANTICO, Va. -- Lt. Gen. David B. Lyons, Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/IG), visited the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) headquarters at the Russell-Knox Building, in Quantico, Virginia, Dec. 15, to gain firsthand insight into the organization’s global mission.
The visit marked one of Lyons’ first engagements since assuming duties as the Inspector General last month.
In his new role, he advises the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force on the readiness, economy, efficiency and state of discipline of the Air Force, and provides administrative guidance and oversight to AFOSI while AFOSI retains its independent authority to conduct its investigative and operational mission.
He previously served as commander of 15th Air Force and as Director of Operations for Air Combat Command.
During the visit, Lyons was hosted by Brig. Gen. Amy Bumgarner, commander of AFOSI, and other AFOSI senior leaders for a series of briefings focused on mission execution, strategic alignment with Department of War (DoW) priorities and enterprise-level initiatives designed to counter evolving threats.
The visit began with an overview of the agency’s mission to conduct independent criminal investigations, as well as counterintelligence and counterterrorism operations worldwide in support of the Air Force, Space Force, DoW and joint partners.
Leaders also highlighted AFOSI’s role as a federal law enforcement agency in protecting the territorial integrity of the United States against transnational crime, and its sensitive national security mission in deterring and countering threats posed in the Indo-Pacific theatre.
In addition, the AFOSI Center leaders provided classified updates on counterintelligence activities in cyberspace, and sensitive operations to counter foreign intelligence threats to protect critical warfighting technologies and capabilities across the DAF.
“This visit reinforces the ever-increasing importance of AFOSI’s continued alignment of our law enforcement and counterintelligence capabilities with DoW and DAF priorities, as we confront increasingly complex global threats,” Bumgarner said.
“The men and women of AFOSI perform a demanding mission with integrity and professionalism,” Lyons said. “And this visit underscored the value of their work in protecting the force.”