Current as of December 18, 2025
BACKGROUND
Air Combat Command (ACC), headquartered at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., is one of 10 major commands in the United States Air Force. As a result of its lineal consolidation with Tactical Air Command in September 2016, the history of ACC now extends back to March 21, 1946. During this nearly 80-year period, ACC has performed a myriad of missions ranging from counter-air, air interdiction and close air support to manned and unmanned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, air battle management and offensive/defensive cyberspace operations. For more than seven decades, ACC has served as the primary provider of air combat forces to America's warfighting commanders.
MISSION
ACC organizes, trains and equips combat-ready Airmen to control and exploit the air, cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum in support of the Joint Force. As the lead command for fighter, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, personnel recovery, persistent attack and reconnaissance, electromagnetic warfare, cyber warfare operations and information warfare operations, ACC is responsible for providing combat air, space and cyberspace power and the combat support that ensure mission success for America's warfighting commands.
FORCES AND ORGANIZATION
ACC has 927 assigned aircraft, with 28 non-expeditionary wings and 1,143 units at 205 locations, and an additional seven wings and 175 units at 48 locations supporting expeditionary operations, for a total of 35 wings and 1,315 units at 253 locations. The active-duty, civilian and Air Reserve Component totals include 20,561 officers, 139 warrant officers, 114,823 enlisted and 21,529 civilians, for a combined total of 157,052 organized under four active-duty numbered air forces and the Air Force Warfare Center. ACC also has responsibility for inland search and rescue operations in the 48 contiguous states.
FIRST AIR FORCE (AIR FORCES NORTHERN) (AFNORTH)
Air Forces Northern, headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., is responsible for ensuring the air sovereignty and air defense of the continental United States, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. As the Continental United States Region (CONR) for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the command provides air defense through airspace surveillance and control.
First Air Force (AFNORTH) is the designated air component for U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Space Command (AFSPACE). In its AFNORTH role, First Air Force rapidly responds to non-military threats under the Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission. The organization assists civilian agencies before and during emergencies, natural or man-made disasters and other DoD-approved activities. This role saves lives and provides humanitarian assistance when needed most in the United States. Operating with the 601st Air and Space Operations Center, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center serves as the U.S. inland search and rescue coordinator and is the single agency responsible for coordinating inland federal searches. These operations can be conducted anywhere in the 48 contiguous states, Mexico and Canada. The Civil Air Patrol is a significant partner in search and rescue and other DSCA missions.
First Air Force is also the air component for United States Space Command (USSC), the 11th unified combatant command established on Aug. 29, 2019. It exercises command and control over Air Force forces supporting the DoD Human Space Flight Support (HSFS) mission, addresses gaps to integrate space power into homeland defense and informs efforts to fuse space operations into air operations centers globally. HSFS includes personnel recovery alert aircraft for all astronaut transits.
NINTH AIR FORCE (AIR FORCES CENTRAL COMMAND) (AFCENT)
Located at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Ninth Air Force (AFCENT) is also the headquarters for the air component of U.S. Central Command, a regional unified command. AFCENT is responsible for air operations, unilaterally or with coalition partners, and developing contingency plans for USCENTCOM's 20-nation area of responsibility in Southwest Asia. Additionally, AFCENT manages an extensive supply and equipment prepositioning program within its area of responsibility. It has two direct reporting units: the AFCENT Air Warfare Center, Al Dhafra, United Arab Emirates, and the 609th Air Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE
Fifteenth Air Force, headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., is responsible for generating and presenting Air Combat Command’s conventional forces. These include fighter, remotely piloted aircraft, command and control and rescue units, plus Air-Ground Operations Airmen who integrate Air Force capabilities in combined arms operations, the Air Force’s dedicated base defense group, RED HORSE engineers and the agile combat support units that open and operate our bases.
SIXTEENTH AIR FORCE (AIR FORCES CYBER) (AFCYBER)
Sixteenth Air Force (AFCYBER), headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, integrates multi-source intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber warfare, electromagnetic warfare and information operations capabilities across the conflict continuum. This ensures the Air Force is fast, lethal and fully integrated in both competition and war. Sixteenth Air Force provides mission integration of information warfare at operational and tactical levels, recognizing the role of information in creating dilemmas for adversaries.
Sixteenth Air Force is the Service Cryptological Component responsible to the National Security Agency/Central Security Service for Air Force matters involving cryptologic activities. The commander also serves as the director of Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force). JFHQ-Cyber personnel perform operational planning to support Air Force and combatant commanders and, upon approval of the president and/or secretary of defense, execute offensive cyberspace operations.
U.S. AIR FORCE WARFARE CENTER (USAFWC)
The USAFWC, located at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., reports directly to Air Combat Command. The center was founded on Sept. 1, 1966, as the U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center and was renamed the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center in October 2005.
The USAFWC exists to ensure deployed forces are well-trained and well-equipped to conduct integrated combat operations. From testing and tactics development to training schools, it provides Airmen with proven technology, current tactics, academic training and opportunities to practice integrated force employment. The USAFWC's vision, mission and priorities are central to supporting Air Combat Command's mission to provide dominant combat airpower for America with warrior Airmen committed to excellence, trained to fly, fight and win... anytime, anyplace.