List of major commands of the United States

Air Force
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.

Current
Current
Shield Major Command Headquarters Mission
Commander
To support the
global
implementation
of national
Langley AFB,
security
Joint Base
Gen Mark D. strategy, ACC
Air Combat Command (ACC) Langley-
Kelly operates fighter,
Eustis,
reconnaissance,
Virginia, U.S.
battle-
management,
and electronic-
combat aircraft

Randolph
AFB, Joint Recruits, trains,
Air Education and Training Command Lt Gen Brian
Base San and educates
(AETC) S. Robinson
Antonio, airmen
Texas, U.S.

Develop and
provide combat-
Barksdale
ready forces for
AFB, Gen Thomas
Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) nuclear
Louisiana, A. Bussiere
deterrence and
U.S.
global strike
operations
Conducts
research,
development,
testing and
evaluation, and
provides the
Wright-
acquisition
Patterson Gen Duke Z.
Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) management
AFB, Ohio, Richardson
services and
U.S.
logistics support
necessary to
keep Air Force
weapon
systems ready
for war

Provides
operational
capability,
strategic depth,
Robins AFB, Lt Gen John and surge
Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)
Georgia, U.S. P. Healy capacity as an
integrated total
force partner in
every Air Force
core mission
 Provide Air
Force
Lt Gen Tony component
Air Force Special Operations Command Hurlburt Field,
D. units for United
(AFSOC) Florida, U.S.
Bauernfeind States Special
Operations
Command
Provide global
air mobility
through airlift
and aerial
refueling for all
of the United
Scott AFB, Gen Michael
Air Mobility Command (AMC) States Armed
Illinois, U.S. A. Minihan
Forces. Air
Force
component of
United States
Transportation
Command

Provide Air
Hickam AFB, Force
Joint Base component
Gen Kenneth
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Pearl Harbor units for United
S. Wilsbach
Hickam, States Indo-
Hawaii, U.S. Pacific
Command

Provide Air
Force
component
units for United
Ramstein Air
United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Gen James States
Base,
Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) B. Hecker European
Germany
Command and
United States
Africa
Command

Historic
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

References
Donald, David, (Ed.) (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Westport, CT: AIRtime
Publishing Inc.

1. Air Force Instruction 38-101, AIR FORCE ORGANIZATION, 4 APRIL 2006 (with Change 2,
dated 20 July 2006), paragraph 2.2.2., page 10.
2. Lopez, Staff Sgt. C. Todd (2006-11-03). "8th Air Force to become new cyber command" (htt
p://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123030505). Air Force Print News. United States Air
Force. Retrieved 2006-11-24.
3. Pampe, Capt. Carla (2006-07-10). "Air Force officials consolidate network ops" (http://www.a
f.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123023090). Eighth Air Force Public Affairs. United States Air
Force. Retrieved 2006-07-10.
 4. "Air Force Communications Command" (http://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Displ
ay/Article/433902/air-force-communications-command/). af.mil. Retrieved 27 March 2018.

External links
Media related to United States Air Force#Major Commands at Wikimedia Commons

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