Air Command and Staff College
Encyclopedia
The Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) is located at Maxwell Air Force Base
in Montgomery, Alabama
and is the United States Air Force
's intermediate professional military education (PME) school. It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U.S. military services in grade O-4 or those selected for O-4 (i.e., majors and USN/USCG lieutenant commanders, as well as major selectees and USN/USCG lieutenant commander selectees), equivalent rank international military officers, and US civil servants of at least GS-13/GM-13 level, to assume positions of higher responsibility within the military and other government arenas. Geared toward teaching the skills necessary for air and space operations in support of a joint campaign as well as leadership and command,
They provide academic leadership to the school's faculty and student body. The dean of education and curriculum, assisted by the vice dean for academic affairs and vice dean for operations, coordinates the integration of the final curriculum content and directs the planning and implementation of the academic programs. The dean of distance learning is responsible for planning, organizing, and delivering the non-resident program of instruction through the departments of Curriculum and Operations. The dean of services and support leads the efforts of cross-cutting organizations including personnel, fitness, technology, facilities, and security. The commander and staff of the 21st Student Squadron are responsible for the health, morale, and welfare of 600 resident students and their families.
There are currently five curriculum departments at the ACSC:
, Alabama
. The building contains a 600-seat auditorium for lectures by distinguished speakers, a smaller 135-seat auditorium for special presentations, plus a variety of conference rooms, staff and administrative offices, and lounge areas. Seminar sessions are held in specially designed rooms featuring closed-circuit television, an array of multimedia equipment, and student access to a school-wide computer network and the Internet. Students are issued more than 80 books to expand their professional capabilities and a personal laptop computer to use to keep track of the academic schedules, on-line reading assignments, and for use in examinations throughout the academic year.
, as the independent Air Force was formed in 1947, grew, and developed, the requirements and expectations of the school evolved to fulfill the service's educational needs.
Major Jeanne M. Holm
, in 1952, became the first woman to attend the Air Command and Staff School. She was the first female USAF officer to achieve the rank of Brigadier General and later Major General.
In 1962, the school became known by its current name, Air Command and Staff College.
During academic year 1994, the school undertook the most significant change to its educational program since its inception. The school transitioned from a lecture-based to a seminar-centered, active environment with an integrated curriculum geared to problem solving across the continuum from peace to war. In academic year 1999, the school began efforts to align its curriculum under the Air University commander's Strategic Guidance for the Continuum of Education. That program now functions as a portion of a comprehensive and integrated career-long professional military education program.
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
and is the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's intermediate professional military education (PME) school. It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U.S. military services in grade O-4 or those selected for O-4 (i.e., majors and USN/USCG lieutenant commanders, as well as major selectees and USN/USCG lieutenant commander selectees), equivalent rank international military officers, and US civil servants of at least GS-13/GM-13 level, to assume positions of higher responsibility within the military and other government arenas. Geared toward teaching the skills necessary for air and space operations in support of a joint campaign as well as leadership and command,
Organization
ACSC has three deans:- education and curriculum
- services and support
- distance learning
They provide academic leadership to the school's faculty and student body. The dean of education and curriculum, assisted by the vice dean for academic affairs and vice dean for operations, coordinates the integration of the final curriculum content and directs the planning and implementation of the academic programs. The dean of distance learning is responsible for planning, organizing, and delivering the non-resident program of instruction through the departments of Curriculum and Operations. The dean of services and support leads the efforts of cross-cutting organizations including personnel, fitness, technology, facilities, and security. The commander and staff of the 21st Student Squadron are responsible for the health, morale, and welfare of 600 resident students and their families.
Curriculum
The present 10-month curriculum focuses on expanding understanding of air and space power and on the growth of mid-career officers. It is meant to:- facilitate the air and space minded thinking of students
- develop and enhances abilities for higher-level command and staff responsibilities,
- enhance students' abilities to think critically about operational air and space concepts in a dynamic international environment,
- broaden students' understanding of the nature of conflict and current and future threats to the United States and its allies, and
- develop and enhances students' abilities to plan and execute the joint campaign planning process and air and space operations to support the joint force commander.
There are currently five curriculum departments at the ACSC:
- International Security and Military Studies
- Joint Warfare Studies
- Leadership, Command and Communication Studies
- Joint Education
- Specialized Studies.
Facilities
ACSC is located in Spaatz Hall on Chennault Circle at Maxwell Air Force BaseMaxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The building contains a 600-seat auditorium for lectures by distinguished speakers, a smaller 135-seat auditorium for special presentations, plus a variety of conference rooms, staff and administrative offices, and lounge areas. Seminar sessions are held in specially designed rooms featuring closed-circuit television, an array of multimedia equipment, and student access to a school-wide computer network and the Internet. Students are issued more than 80 books to expand their professional capabilities and a personal laptop computer to use to keep track of the academic schedules, on-line reading assignments, and for use in examinations throughout the academic year.
History
The Air Command & Staff College traces its roots to the Air Corps Tactical School (ACTS) located at Langley Field, Virginia, from 1926 to 1931, and Maxwell Field from 1931 to 1942. After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as the independent Air Force was formed in 1947, grew, and developed, the requirements and expectations of the school evolved to fulfill the service's educational needs.
Major Jeanne M. Holm
Jeanne M. Holm
Major General Jeanne M. Holm was the first female one-star general of the United States Air Force and the first female two-star general in any service branch of the United States. Holm was a driving force behind the expansion of women's roles in the Air Force.-Early career:Holm was born on June...
, in 1952, became the first woman to attend the Air Command and Staff School. She was the first female USAF officer to achieve the rank of Brigadier General and later Major General.
In 1962, the school became known by its current name, Air Command and Staff College.
During academic year 1994, the school undertook the most significant change to its educational program since its inception. The school transitioned from a lecture-based to a seminar-centered, active environment with an integrated curriculum geared to problem solving across the continuum from peace to war. In academic year 1999, the school began efforts to align its curriculum under the Air University commander's Strategic Guidance for the Continuum of Education. That program now functions as a portion of a comprehensive and integrated career-long professional military education program.
External links
See also
- United States Army Command and General Staff College
- Staff (military)
- Military AcademyMilitary academyA military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
- United States military academiesUnited States military academiesThe United States Service academies, also known as the United States Military Academies, are federal academies for the undergraduate education and training of commissioned officers for the United States armed forces.There are five U.S...
- List of defunct United States military academies
- Higher Command and Staff CourseHigher Command and Staff CourseThe Higher Command and Staff Course is a staff course for senior military officers of the United Kingdom armed forces and allies. It is taught at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom....
(UK) - Air Command and Staff CollegeAir Command and Staff CollegeThe Air Command and Staff College is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate professional military education school. It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U.S...