Department of the Air Force

The Department of the Air Force was created when President Harry S Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947. It became effective Sept. 18, 1947, when Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson administered the oath of office to the first secretary of the Air Force, W. Stuart Symington, a position filled by presidential appointment.Under the National Security Act, the functions assigned to the Army Air Force's commanding general transferred to the Department of the Air Force. The act provided for an orderly two-year transfer of these functions as well as property, personnel and records.

The Secretary of the Air Force is Michael B. Donley. He is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its more than 300,000 men and women on active duty, 180,000 members of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve, 160,000 civilians, and their families. He also oversees the Air Force's annual budget of approximately $110 billion. Donley is a US Army veteran who served with both the XVIII Airborne Corps and the 5th Special Forces Group.

I. Deputy Secretary of the Air Force

A. Administrative Assistant
1. COL(R) William A. Davidson, USAF
2. The Air Force's senior career civilian adviser to the Secretary. He performs high-level assignments following the Secretary's policies, goals and objectives. He manages and supports administratively the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, its 1,650-member Secretariat and supported Field Operating Agencies. These include manpower, people, organization, budget, supply and the Secretary's contingency fund; information, personnel and industrial security; security oversight for U.S. treaty issues; special access programs; and antiterrorism. He also establishes policy and oversees worldwide Air Force departmental publishing, the Air Force Declassification Office, the Air Force Art Program Office, and the Air Force Executive Dining Facility. As the senior Air Force security official, Mr. Davidson develops and executes policy for the Air Force Central Adjudication Facility. He provides engineering and executive support to Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
B. Auditor General
1. COL(R) Theodore J. Williams, USAF
2. Responsible for all internal auditing in the Air Force. He exercises full administrative and technical supervision over a worldwide organization composed of more than 800 members assigned to 50 locations.
3. Again, as in the other services, transfer the auditor functions to the GAO.
C. Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition
1. David M. Van Buren, Acting. CPT, USAF, 1971-81.
2. Acquire and support war fighter capabilities through responsive business solutions.
D. Assistant Secretary for Financial Management and Comptroller
1. This position is currently vacant.
2. To provide high-quality, objective guidance to the decision maker as well as customer-focused financial services to the United States Air Force.
3. How do you “provide high-quality, objective guidance” when the position is vacant?
E. General Counsel
1. Charles A. Blanchard
a. Interim Arizona Director of Homeland Security under Governor Janet Napolitano in 2003 gives me an awful lot of confidence in his abilities!
2. Provides oversight, guidance and direction for legal advice provided by more than 2,600 Department of the Air Force military and civilian lawyers worldwide.
F. International Affairs
1. Bruce S. Lemkin
2. Provides policy oversight and guidance for international programs supporting national security objectives through politico-military affairs, security assistance programs, technology and information disclosure, education and training, cooperative research and development, and attache affairs.
G. Installations, Environment and Logistics
1. This position is currently vacant.
2. Champion agile and innovative policy development while leading cost effective execution in Air Force supply chain management, infrastructure and environmental, safety and occupational health; always providing superior, customer-focused support to the warfighter and their families.
3. Who is “providing superior, customer-focused support to the warfighter and their families”? The chair is empty!
H. Inspector General
1. Lt. Gen. Robert F. Sams, USAF
2. Oversees Air Force inspection policy, criminal investigations, counterintelligence operations, intelligence oversight, complaints, and fraud, waste and abuse programs. He is also responsible for two field operating agencies: the Air Force Inspection Agency and Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
I. Legislative Liaison
1. Maj. Gen. Herbert J. “Hawk” Carlisle, USAF
a. Maj. Gen. Carlisle has been selected for promotion and reassignment to command of the 13th Air Force
2. Liaison between the Air Force and Congress on issues such as legislative and constituent inquiries, programs and weapons systems.
a. Again this directorate should be merged into the Department of Defense Congressional Liaison Office
J. Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs
1. Maj. Gen.(R) Ronald A. Winter, USAF, Acting
2. Provides supervision of manpower, military and civilian personnel, Reserve component affairs, and readiness support for the Department of the Air Force. Also provides guidance, direction and executive oversight to the Deputy Assistant Secretaries for Force Management Integration, Strategic Diversity Integration, Reserve Affairs and the Deputy for the Air Force Review Boards Agency.
K. Public Affairs
1. COL Les A. Kodlik, USAF
2. Responsible for developing and executing communication processes to build understanding and support for the Air Force. Also provides guidance and support for 3,000 bandsmen, broadcasters, multimedia and public affairs professionals in their mission to broadcast internal Air Force information, conduct community and media relations, manage integrated marketing, and execute security review programs.
L. Small Business Programs
1. Ronald A. Poussard, Director
2. Much like the Small Business Programs offices of the Department of the Navy and the Department of the Army, some of its mission should be transferred to the Department of Veteran Affairs, some to the Small Business Administration and some should be abolished.
M. War Fighting Integration and Chief Information Officer
1. Lt. Gen. William L. Shelton, USAF
a. Lt. Gen. Shelton is being reassigned as Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Director, Air Staff, HQ, USAF
2. Integrates Air Force warfighting and mission support capabilities by networking space, air and terrestrial assets. Additionally, he shapes doctrine, strategy, and policy for all communications and information activities while driving standards for governance, innovation, and architectures for information systems and personnel.

II. Chief of Staff, United States Air Force
A. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, USAF
1. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the general and other service chiefs function as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President.
B. Vice Chief of Staff, United States Air Force
1. Gen William M. Frazier, III, USAF
a. Presides over the Air Staff and serves as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Requirements Oversight Council and Deputy Advisory Working Group. He assists the Chief of Staff with organizing, training, and equipping of nearly 700,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. Gen. Frazier is being reassigned as Commander, Air Combat Command.
b. Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, USAF
i. Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz, USAF
ii. Oversees the administration and organization of the Air Staff, which develops policies, plans, and programs; establishes requirements; and, provides resources to support the Air Force's mission. Lt. Gen. Klotz is being reassigned as Commander, Global Strike Command.
c. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
i. CMSAF Rodney J. McKinley, USAF
ii. Represents the highest enlisted level of leadership, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public, and to those in all levels of government. Serves as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force.
d. Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel
i. Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton, III, USAF
ii. Responsible for comprehensive plans and policies covering all life cycles of military and civilian personnel management, which includes military and civilian end strength management, education and training, compensation, resource allocation, and the worldwide USAF services program.
e. Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
i. Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, USAF
ii. Responsible to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force for policy formulation, planning, evaluation, oversight, and leadership of Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The Air Force's Senior Official of the Intelligence Community is directly responsible to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.
f. Deputy Chief of Staff for Air, Space and Information Operations, Plans and Requirements
i. Lt. Gen. Daniel J. Darnell, USAF
ii. Responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff for formulating policy supporting air, space, nuclear, counterproliferation, homeland security, weather and cyber operations. Lt. Gen. Darnell is being reassigned as Deputy Commander, US Pacific Command.
g. Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support
i. Lt. Gen. Loren M. Reno, USAF
ii. Responsible to the Chief of Staff for leadership, management and integration of Air Force logistics readiness, aircraft and missile maintenance, civil engineering and security forces, as well as setting policy and preparing budget estimates that reflect enhancements to productivity, combat readiness and quality of life for Air Force people.
h. Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Programs
i. Lt. Gen. Raymond E. Johns, Jr., USAF
ii. Develops, integrates, evaluates and analyzes the U.S. Air Force Future Years Defense Program that exceeds $822 billion, and the Air Force Long-Range Plan to support national security objectives and military strategy.
i. Director for Studies and Analyses, Assessments and Lessons Learned
i. Dr. Jacqueline R. Henningsen
ii. Responsible to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force for analytic and Air Force Lessons Learned policy oversight and implementation. Ensures comprehensive, defendable and time-sensitive processes underpin Air Force warfighting and force structure capability and sufficiency assessments; informs and illuminates leadership on emerging issues; fireproofs resource investment decisions; and rapidly collects, disseminates, implements and tracks lessons learned.
j. Assistant Chief of Staff, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration
i. Maj. Gen. C. Donald Alston, USAF
ii. Responsible for increasing nuclear focus by ensuring corporate advocacy and cradle-to-grave stewardship of Air Force nuclear systems and weapons; integrating and synchronizing Headquarters U.S. Air Force strategic nuclear mission management supporting major commands; engaging with joint, departmental, and national agency mission partners to facilitate integrated nuclear enterprise solutions; and maintaining synchronization in Air Force strategic deterrent responsibilities.
k. Chief of Chaplains
i. Maj. Gen. Cecil R. Richardson, CHC, USAF
ii. Advises on all matters pertaining to the religious and moral welfare of Air Force personnel. Responsible for establishing an effective total chaplain program to meet the religious needs of all members of the Air Force. The Chief of Chaplains is the senior pastor for more than 800,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas.
l. Director, Air Force History and Museums Policies and Programs
i. COL(R) Clarence R. “Dick” Anderegg, USAF
ii. Provides policy and guidance to four key components of the Air Force history program: the Air Force Historical Research Agency; the Air Force museum system; the Historical Studies Office; and the worldwide history program.
m. Judge Advocate General
i. Lt. Gen. Jack L. Rives, USAF
ii. Legal Adviser to the Secretary of the Air Force and all officers and agencies of the Department of the Air Force. He directs all judge advocates in the performance of their duties and is responsible for the professional oversight of more than 2,200 judge advocates, 350 civilian attorneys, 1,400 enlisted paralegals and 500 civilians in the Total Force Judge Advocate General's Corps worldwide.
n. Chief of Air Force Reserve and Commander, Air Force Reserve Command
i. Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner, Jr., USAFR
ii. The Chief of Air Force Reserve serves as principal adviser on Reserve matters to the Air Force Chief of Staff. As Commander of Air Force Reserve Command, he has full responsibility for the supervision of all U.S. Air Force Reserve units around the world.
o. Chief of Safety and Commander, Air Force Safety Center
i. Maj. Gen. Frederick F. Roggero, USAF
ii. Develops, executes and evaluates all Air Force aviation, ground, weapons, space and system mishap prevention, and nuclear surety programs to preserve combat readiness. Responsible for conducting research to promote safety awareness and mishap prevention; oversees mishap investigations; evaluates corrective actions; and ensures implementation. Manages, develops and directs all Air Force safety and operational risk management education courses.
p. Surgeon General of the Air Force
i. Lt. Gen. James G. Roudebush, MC, USAF
ii. Advises the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff, as well as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs on matters pertaining to the medical aspects of the air expeditionary force and the health of Air Force people. Has authority to commit resources worldwide for the Air Force Medical Service, to make decisions affecting the delivery of medical services, and to develop plans, programs and procedures to support worldwide medical service missions. Exercises direction, guidance and technical management of more than 43,100 people assigned to 75 medical facilities worldwide.
q. Chief Scientist of the Air Force
i. Dr. Werner J.A. Dahm
ii. Chief scientific adviser to the Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Air Force, and provides assessments on a wide range of scientific and technical issues affecting the Air Force mission.
r. Director of Test and Evaluation
i. COL(R) John T. Manclark, USAF
ii. Responsible for all policy, resources and oversight of developmental and operational testing, and is the focal point for foreign materiel acquisition and exploitation.
s. Chief, National Guard Bureau
i. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, ANGUS
ii. The senior uniformed National Guard officer responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, programs and plans affecting more than half a million Army and Air National Guard personnel. Appointed by the President, he serves as principal adviser to the Secretary of Defense through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on National Guard matters. He is also the principal adviser to the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army, and the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force on all National Guard issues. As National Guard Bureau Chief, he serves as the department's official channel of communication with the Governors and Adjutants General.
t. Director, Air National Guard
i. Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt, III, ANGUS
ii. Responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, plans and programs affecting more than 106,800 Guard members in more than 88 flying wings and 200 geographically separated units throughout the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
u. Air Combat Command
i. Gen. John D.W. Corley, USAF
ii. Responsible for organizing, training, equipping, and maintaining combat-ready forces for rapid deployment and employment while ensuring strategic air defense forces are ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime defense. ACC operates more than 1,200 aircraft, 27 wings, 17 bases, and more than 200 operating locations worldwide with 105,000 active-duty and civilian personnel. When mobilized, the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve contribute more than 900 aircraft and 56,000 people to Air Combat Command.
v. Air Education and Training Command
i. Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, USAF
ii. Responsible for the recruiting, training and education of Air Force personnel. His command includes the Air Force Recruiting Service, two numbered air forces and Air University. AETC trains more than 340,000 students per year and consists of 12 bases, more than 88,000 active-duty, Reserve, Guard, civilians and contractors, and 1,485 trainer, fighter and mobility aircraft.
iii. 2nd Air Force, Keesler AFB, MS
1. Maj. Gen. Alfred Flowers, USAF
iv. 19th Air Force, Randolph AFB, AL
1. Maj. Gen. Irving Halter, Jr., USAF
w. Air Force Material Command
i. Gen. Donald Hoffman, USAF
ii. Responsible for research, development, test and evaluation while providing the acquisition management services and logistics support required to develop, procure and sustain Air Force weapon systems.
x. Air Force Space Command
i. Gen. C. Robert Kehler, USAF
ii. Responsible for the development, acquisition and operation of the Air Force's space and missile systems. The general oversees a global network of satellite command and control, communications, missile warning and launch facilities, and ensures the combat readiness of America's intercontinental ballistic missile force. He leads more than 39,700 space professionals who provide combat forces and capabilities to North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Strategic Command.
y. Air Force Special Operations Command
i. Lt. Gen. Donald C. Wurster, USAF
ii. Provides Air Force Special Operations Forces for worldwide deployment and assignment to unified combatant commanders. The command has approximately 16,000 active-duty, Reserve, Air National Guard and civilian professionals.
z. Air Mobility Command
i. Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, USAF
ii. Provide rapid, global mobility and sustainment for America's armed forces. The command also plays a crucial role in providing humanitarian support at home and around the world. The men and women of AMC - active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilians - provide airlift, aerial refueling, special air mission and aeromedical evacuation for all of America's armed forces.
aa. Pacific Air Forces
i. Gen. Carrol H. “Howie” Chandler, USAF
ii. Responsible for all Air Force assets in the Pacific. Gen. Chandler is being reassigned as Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
iii. 5th Air Force, Yokota, Japan
1. Lt. Gen. Edward A. Rice, Jr., USAF
iv. 7th Air Force, Osan, Republic of Korea
1. Lt. Gen. Jeffery Remington, USAF
v. 11th Air Force, Elmendorf AFBV, AK
1. Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF
vi. 13th Air Force, Hickam AFB, HI
1. Lt. Gen. Lloyd S. “Chip” Utterback, USAF
bb. US Air Forces in Europe
i. Gen. Roger A Brady, USAF
ii. Responsible for Air Force activities in a theater spanning three continents, covering more than 20 million square miles.
iii. 3rd Air Force, Ramstein, Germany
1. Lt. Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, USAF

III. Unified Combat Commands report directly to the Secretary of Defense or to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The following UCCs are commanded by USAF Officers:
A. Northern Command
1. Gen. Gene Renuart, USAF
B. Strategic Command
1. Gen. Kevin B. Chilton, USAF
C. Transportation Command
1. Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, USAF

Without going through the biographical index of USAF General Officers and counting the ladies, I have no idea who, what, or where the Air Force Distaff General Officers are located and what they are doing. I can tell you this, that unlike the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps there is not one female General Officer, in the number one slot, on the Air Staff, the Secretariat or in any Major Command. Why is that? Do women in the Air Force still have a glass ceiling? Why does the Air Force have so many General Officers to begin with? Why does a Lieutenant General commanding a numbered Air Force in an operational theater have a Brigadier General as a Deputy while many Lieutenant Generals flying desks in Washington have Major Generals as Deputies?

Do we really need an Air Force, per se? Couldn’t/shouldn’t their tactical and transportation roles be turned back over to the Army? The Air Force is needed for space defense and strategic roles, but that’s all.

I can say a million things about the Air Force, good and bad, but I think that that I’ll use this military analogy:
US Army Captain commanding an infantry company: “Follow me!”
US Navy Captain commanding a war ship: “Sound General Quarters, all hands to battle stations!”
US Marine Corps Captain commanding an infantry company: “You want to live forever, let’s go!”
US Air Force Sergeant: “Go get ‘em Captain, I’ll be at the club when you get to the target!”

God bless the USAF anyway.
Gunner Sends