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This is a list of major commands (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force .
A major command is a significant Air Force organization subordinate to Headquarters, US Air Force. Major commands have a headquarters staff and subordinate organizations, typically formed in numbered air forces, centers, wings, and groups. [1]
Historically, a MAJCOM is the highest level of command, only below Headquarters Air Force (HAF), and directly above numbered air forces (NAFs).
The USAF is organized on a functional basis in the United States and a geographical basis overseas. A major command (MAJCOM) represents a major Air Force subdivision having a specific portion of the Air Force mission. Each MAJCOM is directly subordinate to Headquarters, Air Force. MAJCOMs are interrelated and complementary, providing offensive, defensive, and support elements. An operational command consists (in whole or in part) of strategic, tactical, or defense forces; or of flying forces that directly support such forces. A support command may provide supplies, weapon systems, support systems, operational support equipment, combat material, maintenance, surface transportation, education and training, or special services and other supported organizations.
From 1948 to 1991 MAJCOMs had the authority to form wings using manpower authorizations under their control. Each MAJCOM or other organization reporting directly to USAF was assigned a block of four digit numbers to use for units it organized. The system terminated in 1991 when USAF assumed control of all units except for provisional ones. While the majority of MAJCOM wings were support units, combat commands could (and did) create combat units on their own as shown at List of MAJCOM wings of the United States Air Force.
The USAF's last major reorganization of commands was in 1992. In July 2006, the Air Force Network Operations (AFNETOPS) command was stood up at Barksdale Air Force Base. At the time, it was anticipated that it would be transformed into a new MAJCOM: the Air Force Cyber Command. [2] However, this did not occur, and AFNETOPS was integrated into Air Force Space Command.
On 20 December 2019, the United States Space Force became an independent military service and Air Force Space Command was transferred and redesignated as Space Operations Command.
Since its inception in 1947, a total of 27 organizations have been designated as major commands. Over time, the role of MAJCOMs have changed: some were replaced with NAFs, while some NAFs were replaced with MAJCOMs.
Currently, the USAF is organized into nine MAJCOMS (seven functional and two geographic), with the Air National Guard component reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF). [3] The most recent major command, Air Force Global Strike Command, was activated in August 2009. The other MAJCOMs have either inactivated or lost their command status.
Shield | Major Command | Headquarters | Current Commander | Mission |
---|---|---|---|---|
Air Combat Command (ACC) | Langley AFB, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, U.S. | Gen Kenneth S. Wilsbach | To support the global implementation of national security strategy, ACC operates fighter, reconnaissance, battle-management, and electronic-combat aircraft | |
Air Education and Training Command (AETC) | Randolph AFB, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | Lt Gen Brian S. Robinson | Recruits, trains, and educates airmen | |
Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) | Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, U.S. | Gen Thomas A. Bussiere | Develop and provide combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations | |
Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) | Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, U.S. | Gen Duke Z. Richardson | Conducts research, development, testing and evaluation, and provides the acquisition management services and logistics support necessary to keep Air Force weapon systems ready for war | |
Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) | Robins AFB, Georgia, U.S. | Lt Gen John P. Healy | Provides operational capability, strategic depth, and surge capacity as an integrated total force partner in every Air Force core mission | |
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) | Hurlburt Field, Florida, U.S. | Lt Gen Tony D. Bauernfeind | Provide Air Force component units for United States Special Operations Command | |
Air Mobility Command (AMC) | Scott AFB, Illinois, U.S. | Gen Michael A. Minihan | Provide global air mobility through airlift and aerial refueling for all of the United States Armed Forces. Air Force component of United States Transportation Command | |
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) | Hickam AFB, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii, U.S. | Gen Kevin B. Schneider | Provide Air Force component units for United States Indo-Pacific Command | |
United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) | Ramstein Air Base, Germany | Gen James B. Hecker | Provide Air Force component units for United States European Command and United States Africa Command |
Shield | MAJCOM | Dates Active |
---|---|---|
Alaskan Air Command | 1945–1990 | |
Aerospace Defense Command | 1946–1950; 1951–1980 | |
Air Force Cyber Command (Provisional) | 2007–2008 | |
Air Force Communications Command | 1961–1991 [4] | |
Air Force Intelligence Command | 1948–1993 | |
Air Force Logistics Command | 1944–1992 | |
Air Force Space Command | 1982–2019 | |
Air Force Systems Command | 1950–1992 | |
Air Proving Ground Command | 1946–1957 as major command | |
Air Training Command | 1946–1993 | |
Air University | 1920–1993 | |
Bolling Field Command | 1946-1958 | |
Caribbean Air Command | 1940–1976 | |
Continental Air Command | 1948–1968 | |
Electronic Security Command | 1948–1993 | |
Headquarters Command, USAF | 1946–1976 | |
Military Airlift Command | 1966–1992 | |
Northeast Air Command | 1950–1957 | |
Pacific Air Command | 1946–1949 | |
Special Weapons Command | 1949–1952 | |
Strategic Air Command | 1946–1992 | |
Tactical Air Command | 1946–1992 | |
United States Air Forces Southern Command | 1940–1976 |
The Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and it is the direct successor to Tactical Air Command. Air Combat Command is headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia, United States.
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Its primary mission is the air defense of the Contiguous United States (CONUS), United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Since May 2022, it also provides the Air Force contribution to United States Space Command, as Air Forces Space (AFSPACE), including support functions for NASA human space flight.
The Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California.
The Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) (16 AF) is a United States Air Force (USAF) organization responsible for information warfare, which encompasses intelligence gathering and analysis, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber warfare and electronic warfare operations. Its headquarters is at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas.
Eighteenth Air Force (Air Forces Transportation) (18 AF) is the only Numbered Air Force (NAF) in Air Mobility Command (AMC) and one of the largest NAFs in the United States Air Force. 18 AF was activated on 28 March 1951, inactivated on 1 January 1958, and re-activated on 1 October 2003. 18 AF is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
In military aviation, a wing is a unit of command. In most military aviation services, a wing is a relatively large formation of planes. In Commonwealth countries a wing usually comprises three squadrons, with several wings forming a group. Each squadron will contain around 20 planes.
A group is a military unit or a military formation that is most often associated with military aviation.
The Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF). AFMC was created on July 1, 1992, through the amalgamation of the former Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) and the former Air Force Systems Command (AFSC).
A Numbered Air Force (NAF) is a type of organization in the United States Air Force that is subordinate to a major command (MAJCOM) and has assigned to it operational units such as wings, squadrons, and groups. A Component Numbered Air Force (C-NAF) has the additional role as an Air Force Component Command exercising command and control over air and space forces supporting a Unified Combatant Command. Unlike MAJCOMs, which have a management role, a NAF is a tactical organization with an operational focus, and does not have the same functional staff as a MAJCOM. Numbered air forces are typically commanded by a major general or a lieutenant general.
The Cyberspace Capabilities Center (CCC), located at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the primary organization that develops cyber domain requirements in the United States Air Force.
In the United States Air Force, a division was an intermediate level of command, subordinate to a numbered air force, controlling one or more wings. It also controlled squadrons without associated same-function wings, i.e., 17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron had no associated wing, but its function was part of the 24th Air Division. Divisions are now considered obsolete.
In the United States Marine Corps, a Marine Air–Ground Task Force is the principal organization for all missions across the range of military operations. MAGTFs are a balanced air–ground, combined arms task organization of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that is structured to accomplish a specific mission. The MAGTF was formalized by the publishing of Marine Corps Order 3120.3 in December 1963, "The Marine Corps in the National Defense, MCDP 1-0". It stated:
A Marine air–ground task force with separate air ground headquarters is normally formed for combat operations and training exercises in which substantial combat forces of both Marine aviation and Marine ground units are included in the task organization of participating Marine forces.
The 927th Air Refueling Wing is a combat coded Air Reserve Component (ARC) wing of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Fourth Air Force of Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and is stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
The structure of the United States Air Force refers to the unit designators and organizational hierarchy of the United States Air Force, which starts at the most senior commands.
The Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. AFGSC provides combat-ready forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations in support of combatant commanders. Air Force Global Strike Command is the Air Force's service component to the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).
The United States Air Force's 251st Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group is an Air National Guard engineering installation unit located at Springfield ANGB, Ohio. It is the oldest communications/cyber group in the USAF and was originally chartered at the 251st Mobile Communications Group. The units assigned to the 251CEIG compromise 47.5% of the USAF's Engineering Installation capability and 47.5% of Department of Defenses Build and Extend Organic cyberspace infrastructure robust capability. The co-located 269th Combat Communications Squadron is also assigned to the 251st and is the USAF's Oldest Mobile Communications Squadrons rooted as the 1077th Signal Company Army Air Corps founded in March 1942. The Group Headquarters has 38 personnel assigned with a wartime mission to augment Major Command AFFOR staffs, Joint Force Commander staffs, Numbered Air Forces Warfighting Headquarters staffs or any Combatant Commanders cyber and Communications forward staff function.
The Hobson Plan was an organizational structure established by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1948, following experimental organization in 1947. Known as the "Wing-Base Organization," it replaced the organization used by the United States Army Air Forces (AAF), the predecessor organization of the USAF, which used separate chains of command for combat and support units. The plan made the wing the basic combat unit of the AAF, rather than the group and placed all support elements on a base under the command of the wing commander in addition to combat elements.
The United States Space Force is organized by different units: the Space Staff, the field commands, and the space deltas.