Which center has the overall authoritative source for the status, control, and defense of Air Force networks?

The Air Force Network Operations Center (AFNOC) serves as the overall authoritative source for the status, control, and defense of Air Force networks. This center plays a critical role in monitoring and managing network operations, ensuring the continuity and integrity of the Air Force's information systems. The AFNOC is responsible for providing situational awareness regarding the security and operational status of the networks, which is essential for effective decision-making and response to cyber incidents.

In contrast, other options, such as the Network Control Center (NCC), primarily focus on managing specific network elements, and while they contribute to the overall network management, they do not have the comprehensive authority that the AFNOC holds across all Air Force networks. Similarly, the Integrated Network Operations and Security Center (I-NOSC) has a more specific role related to integrated operations and security, which is important but does not encompass the full breadth of authority and oversight that the AFNOC provides. The Area Processing Center (APC) focuses on specific geographical areas and processing for various data, which is critical at a localized level but lacks the overarching mission of the AFNOC.