Lt Col Kayla Georgiafandis is an Instructor in the Department of Military and Strategic Studies at the U.S. Air Force Academy.  Her previous assignment was the Chief of the Cybersecurity Detect & Respond Branch at United States Transportation Command at Scott AFB, Illinois, responsible for directing the 24/7 cyber operations center in delivering global mission assurance, along with operating and defending the $225M United States Transportation Command network.

Lt Col Georgiafandis received her commission from the Kent State University Air Force ROTC program in 2007 as a Communications Officer.  Lt Col Georgiafandis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Kent State University, and a Master of Arts in International Security and Conflict Resolution from American Military University.  Additionally, Lt Col Georgiafandis is certified through ISACA as a Certified Information Security Manager.

Lt Col Georgiafandis has served in multiple cybersecurity positions to include duties as the Officer in Charge of the Scott AFB Cyber C2 Team, a Network Assurance Watch Officer at DISA Pacific, the Command Test Manager for Cyber Systems at Air Mobility Command, and as a Network Warfare instructor at Air University.  She also deployed to Afghanistan as the J6 Resource Manager for United States Forces – Afghanistan, securing critical communication support for 51 allied nations and multiple Train, Advise, and Assist missions.  Additionally, Lt Col Georgiafandis served in numerous staff positions, culminating with her assignment as the Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commander, United States Transportation Command at Scott AFB, Illinois.

Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence) (2019)

Squadron Officer School (2014)

Master of Arts in International Security, American Military University, Virginia (2013)

Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio (2007)

Instructor, Department of Military Strategic Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy (June 2021 – present)

Chief of the Cybersecurity Detect & Respond Branch, United States Transportation Command, Scott AFB, IL (June 2020 – June 2021)

Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commander, United States Transportation Command, Scott AFB, IL (June 2019 – June 2020)

J6 Resource Manager, United States Forces – Afghanistan, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan (April – October 2018)

Command Test Manager for Cyber Systems, Test and Evaluation Directorate, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL. (June 2016 – June 2019)

Network Assurance Watch Officer, Defense Information Systems Agency Pacific, Ford Island, HI. (June 2015 – June 2016)

Watch Officer, Defense Information Systems Agency Pacific, Ford Island, HI. (March 2014 – June 2015)

Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL. (January – March 2014)

Watch Officer, Defense Information Systems Agency Pacific, Ford Island, HI. (June 2013 – January 2014)

Deputy, Commanders Action Group, HQAU, Maxwell AFB, AL. (June 2011 – June 2013)

Instructor, IOFAC, Maxwell AFB, AL. (June 2010 – June 2011)

OIC Cyber Operations, 375 CS, Scott AFB, IL (February 2009 – June 2010)

Executive Officer, 375 AW, Scott AFB, IL. (June 2008 – February 2009)

Transport Systems Flight Operations Officer, 375 CS, Scott AFB, IL. (November 2007 – June 2008)

Student, Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL. (October 2007 – November 2007)

Student, Basic Communications Officer Training Course, Keesler AFB, MS. (July 2007 – August 2007)

Air Force Achievement Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Non-Article 5 NATO Medal

HQ DISA Air Force General Jumper Award recipient

Multi-domain joint operations

Cyberspace operations

Russian Strategy and Strategic Thinking

Indo-Pacific Theater