Air Staff
Encyclopedia
The Air Staff is one of the Department of the Air Force's two statutorily designated headquarters staffs: the other staff is the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, also known as the Secretariat. The Air Staff is headed by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force
(currently General Norton A. Schwartz
). The Air Staff is primarily composed of uniformed U.S. Air Force officials who assist the Chief of Staff in carrying out his dual-hatted role: as the principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force
, and as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
.
The Air Staff was reorganized in 2006 to be numbered in accordance with the Joint Staff system. For the most part, the Joint Staff numbering system applies to the air staff. Of note, the Air Force separated Analysis and Assessments from A8 and made this a separate directorate under A9, and created a separate directorate for the A10 nuclear mission, in 2008.
For reference, the organization of the Joint Staff follows. See full article.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff organization includes the following departments where all the Joint Staff's planning, policies, intelligence
, manpower
, communications and logistics
functions are translated into action.
The RCO reports to a board of directors comprising the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics and the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force. The office is staffed with a variety of functional specialists who form a collaborative melting pot of expertise. Inherent in the accomplishment of its mission to deliver capability is intent to experiment, within the bounds of statute, to discover and recommend new methods, processes, and techniques for the Air Force and the Department of Defense to conduct business in an efficient fashion.
The Secretary of the Air Force activated the office April 28, 2003. One of its first projects was to deploy significant upgrades to the Integrated Air Defense System, now operational around the National Capital Region. Currently, RCO is working on the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle
to demonstrate a reliable, reusable, unmanned space test platform for the United States Air Force. Additionally, RCO, in conjunction with MIT Lincoln Lab and other partners, is developing a sensitive airborne receiver system. The system is scheduled for in-theater evaluation during the summer of 2009. The RCO Red Team assesses current and future threats to U.S. combat operations by providing independent technical assessments.
Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Air Force, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Air Force, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the...
(currently General Norton A. Schwartz
Norton A. Schwartz
Norton Allan Schwartz is a United States Air Force general who is serving as the 19th Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He previously served as Commander, United States Transportation Command from September 2005 to August 2008...
). The Air Staff is primarily composed of uniformed U.S. Air Force officials who assist the Chief of Staff in carrying out his dual-hatted role: as the principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Air Force
United States Secretary of the Air Force
The Secretary of the Air Force is the Head of the Department of the Air Force, a component organization within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Secretary of the Air Force is appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate...
, and as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
.
The Air Staff was reorganized in 2006 to be numbered in accordance with the Joint Staff system. For the most part, the Joint Staff numbering system applies to the air staff. Of note, the Air Force separated Analysis and Assessments from A8 and made this a separate directorate under A9, and created a separate directorate for the A10 nuclear mission, in 2008.
Joint Staff organization
The Joint Chiefs of Staff organization includes the following departments where all the Joint Staff's planning, policies, intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
, manpower
Manpower
Manpower may refer to:*Human resourcesOrganizations:*Manpower Inc., an international employment agency, headquartered in the United States*Manpower Incorporated, a criminal enterprise in the Honor Harrington science fiction series...
, communications and logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
functions are translated into action.
- DOM - Directorate of Management
- J1 - Personnel and Manpower
- J2 - Intelligence
- J3 - Operations
- J4 - Logistics - Lieutenant General Kathleen M. Gainey
- J5 - Strategic Plans and Policy
- J6 - Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems
- J7 - Operational Plans and Joint Force Development
- J8 - Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment
Constituents of the Air Staff
- Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force
- Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force
- Assistant Vice Chief of Staff
- Chief Master Sergeant of the Air ForceChief Master Sergeant of the Air ForceThe Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. The holder of this rank and post represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests,...
- Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (A1)
- Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (A2)
- Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (A3/5)
- Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations & Logistics (A4/7)
- Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans & Programs (A8)
- Director for Studies & Analyses, Assessments and Lessons Learned (A9)
- Chief of Security Forces
- Chief of Communication & Information
- Judge Advocate GeneralJudge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Air ForceThe Judge Advocate General's Corps also known as the "JAG Corps" or "JAG" is the legal arm of the United States Air Force.- History :The United States Air Force became a separate military service in September 1947. On 25 June 1948, the Congress established an office of The Judge Advocate General ...
- Surgeon GeneralSurgeon General of the United States Air ForceThe Surgeon General of the United States Air Force is the senior-most Medical Service officer in the U.S. Air Force. In recent times, this has been a Lieutenant General who serves as head of the United States Air Force Medical Service...
- Air Force Historian
- Chief of the Air Force Reserve
- Chief of the National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
Bureau - Director of Tests and Evaluation
- Chief of ChaplainChaplainTraditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
Services - Chief of Safety
- Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air ForceChief Scientist of the U.S. Air ForceThe Chief Scientist of the United States Air Force is a three-star equivalent civilian member of Headquarters Air Force and in this role is the most senior Science & Technology representative in the U.S. Air Force. The current Chief Scientist of the United States Air Force is Dr. Mark T...
Rapid Capabilities Office
The Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, located in Washington, D.C., reports directly to a Board of Directors chaired by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. Board members also include the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. The office responds to Combat Air Force and combatant command requirements.The RCO reports to a board of directors comprising the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics and the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force. The office is staffed with a variety of functional specialists who form a collaborative melting pot of expertise. Inherent in the accomplishment of its mission to deliver capability is intent to experiment, within the bounds of statute, to discover and recommend new methods, processes, and techniques for the Air Force and the Department of Defense to conduct business in an efficient fashion.
The Secretary of the Air Force activated the office April 28, 2003. One of its first projects was to deploy significant upgrades to the Integrated Air Defense System, now operational around the National Capital Region. Currently, RCO is working on the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle
Boeing X-37
The Boeing X-37 is an American unmanned vertical-takeoff, horizontal-landing spaceplane. The X-37 is operated by the United States Air Force for orbital spaceflight missions intended to demonstrate reusable space technologies...
to demonstrate a reliable, reusable, unmanned space test platform for the United States Air Force. Additionally, RCO, in conjunction with MIT Lincoln Lab and other partners, is developing a sensitive airborne receiver system. The system is scheduled for in-theater evaluation during the summer of 2009. The RCO Red Team assesses current and future threats to U.S. combat operations by providing independent technical assessments.