Commander of the Allied Air Command

Commander of the Allied Air Command is a senior military position within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), responsible for the overall direction and control of Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) operations. The Commander of the Allied Air Command plays a crucial role in ensuring the air defence of NATO member countries, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States. The Commander works closely with other senior military leaders, such as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, to achieve NATO's strategic objectives. This includes cooperation with other NATO commands, such as Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) and Allied Land Command (LANDCOM), as well as with partner organizations like the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN).

● Introduction

The Commander of the Allied Air Command is responsible for the planning, direction, and execution of air operations within the NATO Area of Responsibility (AOR), which includes the airspace of all NATO member countries, as well as the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. The Commander works closely with the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&CF) and the NATO Air Command (AIRCOM) to ensure the effective use of air power in support of NATO operations, such as the Kosovo War and the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021). The Commander also collaborates with other NATO agencies, including the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) and the NATO Standardization Agency (NSA), to ensure the interoperability of air forces from different NATO member countries, such as the Royal Air Force (RAF), the United States Air Force (USAF), and the French Air and Space Force (FASF).

● History of Allied Air Command

The Allied Air Command was established in 2004, as part of a broader effort to transform NATO's military structure and improve its ability to respond to emerging security challenges, such as terrorism and cyber warfare. The Command was formed through the merger of two existing NATO air commands: Allied Air Forces Central Europe (AAFCE) and Allied Air Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH). The first Commander of the Allied Air Command was General Robert H. Foglesong, a former United States Air Force (USAF) officer who had previously served as the Commander of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). Since then, the Command has been led by a series of experienced military leaders, including General Tom Hobbins, General Frank Gorenc, and General Tod Wolters, who have all played important roles in shaping NATO's air power strategy and overseeing the execution of air operations in support of NATO missions, such as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Kosovo Force (KFOR).

● Responsibilities and Authority

The Commander of the Allied Air Command has a wide range of responsibilities, including the planning and direction of air operations, the development of air power strategy, and the oversight of air force training and exercises, such as the NATO Air Policing mission and the Baltic Air Policing mission. The Commander also serves as the primary advisor to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) on air power matters, providing expert guidance on the use of air power in support of NATO operations, such as the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) and the Libyan Civil War. In addition, the Commander works closely with other NATO commanders, such as the Commander of the Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) and the Commander of the Allied Land Command (LANDCOM), to ensure the effective integration of air power with other military capabilities, such as naval aviation and special operations forces. The Commander also collaborates with partner organizations, such as the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN), to promote cooperation and interoperability in the use of air power, such as through the NATO-Russia Council and the NATO-Ukraine Commission.

● List of Commanders

The following is a list of Commanders of the Allied Air Command: * General Robert H. Foglesong (2004-2006) * General Tom Hobbins (2006-2009) * General Frank Gorenc (2009-2012) * General Tod Wolters (2012-2015) * General Frank Gorenc (second term) (2015-2016) * General Wolfgang Holzhausen (2016-2019) * General Jeffrey L. Harrigian (2019-present) These Commanders have all played important roles in shaping NATO's air power strategy and overseeing the execution of air operations in support of NATO missions, such as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Kosovo Force (KFOR), and have worked closely with other senior military leaders, such as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, to achieve NATO's strategic objectives.

● Operational Structure

The Allied Air Command is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and has a number of subordinate commands and agencies, including the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&CF) and the NATO Air Command (AIRCOM). The Command also has a number of air bases and facilities throughout the NATO Area of Responsibility (AOR), including Aviano Air Base in Italy, Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, and Lajes Field in the Azores. The Commander of the Allied Air Command works closely with the commanders of these subordinate units to ensure the effective use of air power in support of NATO operations, such as the Kosovo War and the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021). The Commander also collaborates with other NATO agencies, including the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) and the NATO Standardization Agency (NSA), to ensure the interoperability of air forces from different NATO member countries, such as the Royal Air Force (RAF), the United States Air Force (USAF), and the French Air and Space Force (FASF).

● Notable Operations and Missions

The Allied Air Command has played a key role in a number of notable operations and missions, including the Kosovo War, the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), and the Libyan Civil War. The Command has also provided air support to a number of other NATO operations, including the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Kosovo Force (KFOR). In addition, the Command has participated in a number of air exercises and training events, such as the NATO Air Policing mission and the Baltic Air Policing mission, to promote cooperation and interoperability among NATO air forces, such as the Royal Air Force (RAF), the United States Air Force (USAF), and the French Air and Space Force (FASF). The Commander of the Allied Air Command has worked closely with other senior military leaders, such as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, to achieve NATO's strategic objectives and ensure the effective use of air power in support of NATO operations.