Twenty-Third Air Force

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Twenty-Third Air Force
(Air Forces Special Operations Forces)
Twenty-Third Air Force - Emblem.png
Shield of the Twenty-Third Air Force [lower-alpha 1]
Active1 January 2008 – 4 April 2013
(5 years, 3 months)
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Type Numbered Air Force
Role Special Operations
Part of Shield of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command.svg   Air Force Special Operations Command
United States Special Operations Command Insignia.svg U.S. Special Operations Command

The Twenty-Third Air Force (Air Forces Special Operations Forces) was a Numbered Air Force that was assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command. It was stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida and was active from 1 January 2008 until 4 April 2013. It served as the operational headquarters for Air Force special operations forces assigned to joint and combined commands. Starting in 2012, it transferred operational control of some of its units to other headquarters; its remaining functions were assumed by the Air Force Special Operations Command Air Operations Center when it was inactivated the following year.

Contents

History

On 1 January 2008, Twenty-Third Air Force was established at Hurlburt Field as Air Force Special Operations Command's only Numbered Air Force with responsibility for Air Force Special Operations Forces. [1] It was established as the headquarters to execute Air Force Special Operations Command missions supporting United States Special Operations Command. [2]

The mission of Twenty-Third Air Force was to provide special operations forces to deployed air commanders. Its mission was to monitor and control global special operations activity to senior leaders; providing trained special operations command and control, intelligence, and weather support elements to theater special operations commanders and executing command and control for air, space and cyberspace operations supporting United States Special Operations Command. [2]

Its 623rd Air and Space Operations Center included personnel and equipment to form joint special operations air components, responsible for planning and executing joint special operations air activities. and integrating special operations with conventional air operations. The 23rd Weather Squadron provided global weather coverage for Joint, Army, and Air Force special operations missions. The 11th Intelligence Squadron created intelligence products tailored for special operations missions. Finally, the 18th Flight Test Squadron evaluated aircraft, equipment, and tactics to assess their mission capability. [2]

Upon its inactivation its mission was transferred to its subordinate 623rd Air Operations Center, which was reassigned to Air Force Special Operations Command and renamed the Air Force Special Operations Command Operations Center. [3]

Lineage

Activated on 1 January 2008 [1]
Inactivated on 4 April 2013 [3]

Assignments

Components

Stations

List of commanders

No.Commander [1] Term
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1
090901-F-JZ029-629 Michael W. Callan.jpg
Callan, Michael W.Brigadier General
Michael W. Callan
1 January 200814 July 2008195 days
2
Brigadier General Thomas J. Trask.jpg
Trask, Thomas J.Brigadier General
Thomas J. Trask
14 July 20087 January 2009177 days
3
Brigadier General Richard S. Haddad.jpg
Haddad, Richard S.Brigadier General
Richard S. Haddad
7 January 20093 April 200986 days
4
Brig Gen Marshall Webb Official Photo 2012.jpg
Webb, Marshall B.Brigadier General
Marshall B. Webb [9]
3 April 2009June 2010c.1 year, 73 days
5
Brigadier General George F. Williams.jpg
Williams, George F.Brigadier General
George F. Williams [11]
April 2010August 2010c.122 days
?
Maj Gen Timothy J. Leahy.jpg
Leahy, Timothy J.Brigadier General
Timothy J. Leahy [13]
August 20124 April 2013c.232 days

Notes

  1. Approved 27 December 2007 [1]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Force Special Operations Command</span> United States military unit

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida, is the special operations component of the United States Air Force. An Air Force major command (MAJCOM), AFSOC is also the U.S. Air Force component command to United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), a unified combatant command located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. AFSOC provides all Air Force Special Operations Forces (SOF) for worldwide deployment and assignment to regional unified combatant commands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">67th Cyberspace Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 67th Cyberspace Operations Group is a unit of the 67th Cyberspace Wing. Headquartered on Kelly Field Annex's Security Hill, the group is an Air Force information operations unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">24th Special Tactics Squadron</span> US Air Force military unit

The 24th Special Tactics Squadron is one of the Special Tactics units of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). Garrisoned at Pope Field, North Carolina, it is the U.S. Air Force component of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). The unit's webpage describes it as "the Air Force's special operations ground force".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Air Force Combat Rescue School</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">319th Special Operations Squadron</span> Military unit

The 319th Special Operations Squadron was first activated in September 1944 as the 319th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando) and served in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. It provided airlift support and conducted airborne drops and glider operations for Allied troops in Burma, central China, and French Indochina in the last year of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Special Operations Wing</span> US Air Force unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">919th Special Operations Wing</span> US Air Force unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">24th Special Operations Wing</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">18th Special Operations Test and Evaluation Squadron</span> Military unit

The 18th Special Operations Test and Evaluation Squadron is an active unit of the United States Air Force, based at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The squadron performs field testing for Air Force Special Operations Command, evaluating aircraft, equipment, and tactics in realistic battlespace environments to provide decision-makers with accurate, timely, and complete assessments of mission capability. From concept development to system fielding, the unit's mission improves the survivability and combat capability of special operations forces worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">361st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group</span> Military unit

The United States Air Force's 361st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group is an intelligence unit located at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It provides intelligence support to Air Force Special Operations Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">25th Intelligence Squadron</span> Military unit

The United States Air Force's 25th Intelligence Squadron is an intelligence unit located at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It provides intelligence support to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">23rd Special Tactics Squadron</span> Military unit

The 23rd Special Tactics Squadron is an active ground unit, within the 24th Special Operations Wing United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). It is garrisoned at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The 23rd STS was previously designated the 1723rd Special Tactics Squadron prior to 1992.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Force Special Operations Training Center</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">11th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric E. Fiel</span> United States Air Force general

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">720th Special Tactics Group</span> Military unit

The 720th Special Tactics Group is one of the special operations ground components of the 24th Special Operations Wing, assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) of the United States Air Force. The group is headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The group is composed of geographically separated squadrons in four separate states; Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina and Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">724th Special Tactics Group</span> Military unit

The 724th Special Tactics Group is one of the special operations ground components of the 24th Special Operations Wing, assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The Group is headquartered at Pope Field, North Carolina. The Group is composed of four squadrons, also located on Pope Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">23rd Special Operations Weather Squadron</span> Military unit

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kane, Robert B. (30 June 2009). "Twenty-Third Air Force (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency . Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Twenty-Third Air Force". Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs. 17 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "23rd AF deactivates [sic]". Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs. 5 April 2013. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  4. Robertson, Patsy (5 September 2013). "Factsheet 23d Special Operations Weather Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  5. Dollman, TSG David (21 October 2016). "Factsheet 11th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  6. Robertson, Patsy (22 April 2008). "Factsheet 18 Flight Test Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  7. Sanchez, Raquel (12 February 2013). "AFSOC stands up Air Warfare Center". Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  8. "Lieutenant General Marshall B. 'Brad' Webb". United States Air Force. September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  9. "Lieutenant General Marshall B. 'Brad' Webb". United States Air Force. September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  10. "Brigadier General George F. Williams". United States Air Force. March 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  11. "Brigadier General George F. Williams". United States Air Force. March 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  12. "Major General Timothy J. Leahy". United States Air Force. July 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  13. "Major General Timothy J. Leahy". United States Air Force. July 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2023.

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.