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17C0 Career Guide

Air Force

17C0: Cyberspace Operations Officer

Career transition guide for Air Force Cyberspace Operations Officer (17C0)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 17C0 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

$210K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

CISSP or CISM certificationExecutive leadership experience

IT Director

$160K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project management certification (PMP, Agile)Budget management experience

Network Operations Manager

$140K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Advanced networking certifications (CCNP, CCIE)Specific vendor certifications (e.g., Cisco, Juniper)

Program Manager

$130K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationAgile methodologies experience

Cybersecurity Consultant

$120K
Moderate matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., Security+, CEH)Specific industry knowledge (e.g., HIPAA, PCI DSS)Sales and client management skills

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 17C0 training built — and where they transfer.

Rapid Prioritization

As a commander of cyberspace operations, you constantly assess and prioritize threats, vulnerabilities, and operational requirements in a dynamic environment to ensure mission success.

Your ability to quickly analyze situations and prioritize tasks under pressure translates to effective project management and risk mitigation in fast-paced civilian settings.

System Modeling

You develop a deep understanding of complex cyber systems and networks to predict their behavior, identify potential weaknesses, and optimize their performance.

Your experience in creating and using system models allows you to analyze and improve business processes, predict outcomes, and make informed decisions in various industries.

Adversarial Thinking

In cyberspace operations, you anticipate and counter the actions of adversaries, developing defensive and offensive strategies to protect critical assets and disrupt enemy activities.

Your ability to think like an adversary equips you to identify potential risks, develop mitigation strategies, and ensure the security and resilience of systems and organizations.

Team Synchronization

You orchestrate the efforts of diverse teams, including cyber operators, engineers, and analysts, to achieve common objectives in cyberspace operations.

Your experience in synchronizing teams ensures seamless integration of efforts, optimized resource allocation, and successful project outcomes in collaborative civilian environments.

Situational Awareness

You maintain constant awareness of the cyber landscape, monitoring threats, vulnerabilities, and operational status to make informed decisions and respond effectively to emerging situations.

Your heightened awareness of the environment allows you to identify opportunities, anticipate challenges, and navigate complex situations with confidence and decisiveness.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

SOC 11-3021.00

You've been commanding complex cyber operations and managing diverse teams in high-pressure situations. As a CISO, you'll leverage your expertise to safeguard an organization's information assets, mitigate cyber risks, and ensure compliance with security regulations.

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to handle crises and coordinate responses in dynamic environments. As an Emergency Management Director, you'll use your skills to develop and implement emergency plans, coordinate resources, and ensure community resilience in the face of natural disasters, security threats, and other emergencies.

Business Continuity Manager

SOC 11-3021.00

You've been responsible for maintaining operational readiness and ensuring continuity of operations. As a Business Continuity Manager, you'll apply your skills to develop and implement business continuity plans, conduct risk assessments, and ensure that an organization can recover quickly from disruptions.

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051.00

You have experience monitoring and evaluating activities and functions, and evaluating the effectiveness of operations. As an Intelligence Analyst, you'll leverage those skills to gather and analyze information from various sources, identify patterns and trends, and provide insights that inform decision-making and strategic planning.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Cyber Operations Officer Course, Hurlburt Field, FL

240 training hours6 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • Cyberspace Operations Planning
  • Cybersecurity Policy and Law
  • Network Infrastructure and Security
  • Offensive and Defensive Cyber Operations
  • Incident Response and Management
  • Risk Management Framework (RMF)
  • Command and Control in Cyberspace
  • Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)70% covered

Requires studying specific domains like legal, regulatory, compliance, and a broader understanding of information security management principles beyond the military context. Need to learn more risk management.

CompTIA Security+80% covered

Requires some study of commercial cybersecurity tools and techniques.

Project Management Professional (PMP)60% covered

Formal project management methodologies (PMBOK), stakeholder management, and detailed project planning processes need to be learned.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO)AWS Certified Security – SpecialtyCertified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Air Force Intranet Control (AFINC)Enterprise network security management platforms (e.g., Palo Alto Networks, Cisco)
Joint Regional Security Stacks (JRSS)Next-generation firewalls and intrusion prevention systems (e.g., Fortinet, Check Point)
Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment/Hunter Weapon System (CVA/Hunter)Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools (e.g., Nessus, Metasploit)
Air Force Cyberspace Defense (ACD)Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems (e.g., Splunk, QRadar)
Integrated Maintenance Data System (IMDS)IT asset management and maintenance tracking software (e.g., ServiceNow, IBM Maximo)
Theater Battle Management Core System (TBMCS)Air traffic control and flight planning systems (e.g., Collins Aerospace, Thales Group)

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