Air Force Global Strike Command

Air Force Global Strike Command
en:United States Army Institute of Heraldry · Public domain · source
Unit name	Air Force Global Strike Command
Dates	August 7, 2009 - present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Major command
Role	Nuclear deterrence, global strike
Size	Over 30,000 personnel
Headquarters	Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
Commander1	General John Hyten
Commander1 label	First commander
Notable commanders	General Robin Rand, General Timothy Ray

Air Force Global Strike Command is a major command of the United States Air Force responsible for the nation's nuclear deterrence and global strike capabilities, with its headquarters located at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. The command was established on August 7, 2009, with the goal of providing a more streamlined and efficient organization for the United States Air Force's nuclear and conventional strike assets, including the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Rockwell B-1 Lancer, and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit. The command is also responsible for the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system, which is operated by the 20th Air Force and supported by the Missile Defense Agency and National Nuclear Security Administration. The command works closely with other military organizations, including the United States Strategic Command, United States European Command, and United States Pacific Command.

● History

The history of the command dates back to the early days of the Cold War, when the United States Air Force first developed its nuclear deterrence capabilities, with the establishment of the Strategic Air Command in 1946, which was later inactivated in 1992 and replaced by the United States Strategic Command and the Air Combat Command. The command's predecessor, the Air Force Space Command, was established in 1982 and was responsible for the United States Air Force's space and nuclear operations, including the Minuteman III and Peacekeeper missile systems, which were also supported by the National Reconnaissance Office and the Defense Intelligence Agency. The command was also influenced by the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986, which reorganized the United States Department of Defense and established the United States Strategic Command as a unified combatant command, with the support of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the National Security Council. The command's establishment was also driven by the need to improve the United States Air Force's nuclear surety and safety, following a series of incidents and accidents, including the Minot AFB nuclear weapons incident in 2007, which was investigated by the United States Air Force's Office of Special Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

● Organization

The command is organized into several major components, including the 20th Air Force, which is responsible for the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system, and the 8th Air Force, which is responsible for the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and Rockwell B-1 Lancer bomber fleets, with support from the 307th Bomb Wing and the 2nd Bomb Wing. The command also includes the 576th Flight Test Squadron, which is responsible for testing and evaluating the Minuteman III and other nuclear systems, with the support of the Arnold Engineering Development Center and the Edwards Air Force Base. The command is led by a four-star general, who serves as the commander of the United States Air Force's global strike forces, and works closely with other senior leaders, including the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and the Secretary of the Air Force, as well as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense.

● Mission

The command's mission is to provide a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent, and to conduct global strike operations in support of the United States' national security objectives, with the support of the National Security Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency. The command is responsible for maintaining the United States Air Force's nuclear and conventional strike capabilities, including the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Rockwell B-1 Lancer, and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber fleets, as well as the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system, which is also supported by the Missile Defense Agency and the National Nuclear Security Administration. The command works closely with other military organizations, including the United States Strategic Command, United States European Command, and United States Pacific Command, to conduct joint and combined operations, with the support of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Northern Command.

● Equipment

The command operates a range of equipment, including the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Rockwell B-1 Lancer, and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber fleets, as well as the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system, which is supported by the Missile Defense Agency and the National Nuclear Security Administration. The command also operates a range of support aircraft, including the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker and Boeing KC-10 Extender tanker fleets, which are also supported by the Air Mobility Command and the United States Transportation Command. The command is also responsible for the development and acquisition of new systems, including the Long Range Strike Bomber and the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent programs, with the support of the Lockheed Martin and the Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

● Operations

The command conducts a range of operations, including nuclear deterrence, global strike, and humanitarian assistance, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The command works closely with other military organizations, including the United States Strategic Command, United States European Command, and United States Pacific Command, to conduct joint and combined operations, with the support of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Northern Command. The command is also responsible for providing support to other government agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security, with the support of the National Security Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

● Commanders

The command has been led by several notable commanders, including General John Hyten, who served as the first commander of the command, and General Robin Rand, who served as the commander from 2015 to 2018, with the support of the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and the Secretary of the Air Force. The current commander is General Timothy Ray, who has served in the position since 2018, and works closely with other senior leaders, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense. The command has also been supported by other notable leaders, including General Curtis LeMay, who served as the commander of the Strategic Air Command during the Cold War, and General Bernard Schriever, who served as the commander of the Air Force Systems Command during the development of the Minuteman III missile system.

Category:Military units and formations of the United States