The Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (also known as COMNAVAIRLANT, AIRLANT, and CNAL) is the aviation type commander (TYCOM) for the United States Naval aviation units operating primarily in the Atlantic under United States Fleet Forces Command. Type Commanders are in administrative control (ADCON), and in some cases operational control (OPCON) of certain types of assets (ships, submarines, aircraft, and fleet marines) assigned to the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets. AIRLANT is responsible for the material readiness, administration, training, and inspection of units/squadrons under their command, and for providing operationally ready air squadrons and aircraft carriers to the fleet.
COMNAVAIRLANT is headquartered at Naval Support Activity, Hampton Roads. The staff is made up of approximately 650 officer, enlisted, civilian and contractor personnel.
Mission "Support COMLANTFLT and other commanders by providing combat ready/sustainable naval air forces, trained and equipped in an environment which emphasizes safety, interoperability and efficient resource management."
History Naval Air Force, US Atlantic Fleet was established on 1 January 1943, at NAS Norfolk, Virginia. The command was initially called Air Force, Atlantic Fleet and replaced three older organizations: Commander Carriers, Atlantic Fleet; Carrier Replacement Squadron, Atlantic Fleet; and Fleet Air Wings, Atlantic. AIRLANT's mission was to oversee logistics, maintenance and training of east coast aviation units, and to direct all World War II Atlantic operations not assigned to specific task forces. The combat mission consisted primarily of combating German U-boats, which were wreaking havoc on U.S. shipping support for the war effort in Europe. AIRLANT also contributed heavily to war in the Pacific by training Pacific Fleet units and deploying east coast units to the Pacific. In 1944 AIRLANT deployed 16 carriers, 20 carrier air groups, 67 carrier-based squadrons, 21 patrol squadrons and 18 aviation units to the Pacific.Naval Aviation News January–February 1994 On 30 July 1957, the command added "Naval" to its title.
An important subordinate command for a long period was Commander, Fleet Air Keflavik, at what was Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland.GlobalSecurity.org, Commander Fleet Air Keflavik Naval aviation has always played a large role in the operations at Keflavik, especially with regard to the enormous build-up of the Soviet Navy. Deployment of patrol squadron detachments, and later entire squadrons, started as early as 1951, with the P-2 "Neptune" maritime patrol aircraft succeeded by the Lockheed P-3 "Orion" in the mid-1960s. In 1955, Barrier Force, Atlantic had been established in Argentia, Newfoundland, flying radar early-warning missions using the WV-2 (EC-121 Warning Star aircraft in the North Atlantic from 1957. These aircraft made frequent deployments to Keflavik. On July 1, 1961, Commander Barrier Force, Atlantic moved from Argentia to Keflavik. The duties of Commander, Iceland Defense Force were assumed by the rear admiral commanding Barrier Force Atlantic.
In October 2001, the Chief of Naval Operations placed Type Commanders in a "Lead-Follow" arrangement. Under this arrangement, COMNAVAIRPAC (AIRLANT's west coast counterpart) became TYCOM for all Naval Aviation, and assumed the additional title of Commander, Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR). At that time, command of AIRLANT went from a 3-star/Vice Admiral to a 2-star Rear Admiral.
List of commanders Dates Commander1943RADM Alva D. Bernhard1943–1946VADM Patrick N. L. Bellinger1946–1948VADM Gerald F. Bogan1948–1951VADM Felix B. Stump1951–1954VADM John J. Ballentine1954–1956VADM Frederick W. McMahon1956–1960VADM William L. Rees1960–1963VADM Frank O'Beirne1963–1965VADM Paul H. Ramsey1965–1969VADM Charles T. Booth1969–1972VADM Robert L. Townsend1972–1975VADM Frederick H. Michaelis1975–1978VADM Howard E. Greer1978–1981VADM George E.R. Kinnear II1981–1983VADM Thomas J. Kilcline1983–1983VADM Carol C. Smith, Jr.1983–1986VADM Robert F. Dunn1986–1989VADM Richard M. Dunleavy1989–1991VADM John K. Ready1991–1994VADM Anthony A. Less1994–1996VADM Richard C. Allen1996–1998VADM John J. Mazach1998–2001VADM Joseph S. Mobley2001–2002RADM Michael D. Malone2002–2004RADM James M. Zortman2004–2006RADM H. Denby Starling II2006–2008RADM John W. Goodwin2009–2010RADM Richard J. O'Hanlon2010–2013RADM Ted N. Branch2013–2015RADM Troy M. Shoemaker2015–2016RADM John R. Haley2016–2017RADM Bruce H. Lindsey2017–2020RADM Roy J. Kelley2020–2023RADM John F. Meier2023–presentRADM Douglas C. Verissimo
Subordinate Commands
Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet is composed of more than 40,000 men and women who maintain and operate the aircraft carriers, aircraft squadrons and aircraft of the Atlantic Fleet. It provides combat-ready air forces to fleet commanders operating around the globe.
Carrier Strike Groups There are six Carrier Strike Group commanders who, although not under operational control of COMNAVAIRLANT, work very closely with the staff. CSG commanders are operationally responsible for the carrier, the embarked airwing and the cruisers that make up the battle group. Carrier Strike Group Two (George H.W. Bush Battle Group) Carrier Strike Group Eight (Eisenhower Battle Group) Carrier Strike Group Ten (Truman Battle Group) Carrier Strike Group Twelve (Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group)
Aircraft Carriers The nucleus of the surface battle group is the aircraft carrier. In the Atlantic Fleet, COMNAVAIRLANT has five carriers assigned to carry out the mission of COMLANTFLT and other commanders. One or two of these carriers are usually deployed with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea or with the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf in support of U.S. Central Command. When not deployed or undergoing periodic maintenance/overhaul, or refresher training, these ships operate with United States Fleet Forces Command Task Force 80 in the Western Atlantic or U.S. Fourth Fleet in the Caribbean. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) USS George Washington (CVN-73) USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)
Carrier air wings The carrier air wing commander is responsible for a number of squadrons whose missions include attack, fighter, patrol, reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare and logistic support. Carrier Air Wing One Carrier Air Wing Three Carrier Air Wing Seven Carrier Air Wing Eight
Type Wings Type Wing commanders are individually responsible for major categories of aircraft squadrons. There are four single Navy wide Type Wing commanders for the Airborne Command & Control and Logistics (E-2C, D and C-2A), Electronic Attack (EA-18G), Joint Strike Fighter (F-35C) and Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission (CMV-22B) communities which report to Commander, Naval Air Forces who is dual hatted as Commander, Naval Air Forces U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic Fleet (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGLANT) VFA-11 Red Rippers VFA-31 Tomcatters VFA-32 Swordsmen VFA-34 Blue Blasters VFA-37 Bulls VFA-81 Sunliners VFA-83 Rampagers VFA-87 Golden Warriors VFA-103 Jolly Rogers VFA-105 Gunslingers VFA-106 Gladiators (FRS) VFA-131 Wildcats VFA-143 Pukin' Dogs VFA-211 Fighting Checkmates VFA-213 Black Lions Strike Fighter Weapons School, Atlantic (STRKFIGHTWPNSCOLANT) COMSTRKFITWINGLANT Det Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) Key West COMSTRKFITWINGLANT Det AIMD Oceana
Commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, Atlantic Fleet (COMHSMWINGLANT) HSM-40 Airwolves (FRS) HSM-46 Grandmasters HSM-48 Vipers (Expeditionary) HSM-50 Valkyries (Expeditionary) HSM-70 Spartans HSM-72 Proud Warriors HSM-74 Swamp Foxes HSM-79 Griffins (Expeditionary) (Naval Station Rota, Spain) Helicopter Maritime Strike Weapons School, Atlantic (HELMARSTRIKEWEPSCOLANT) Naval Surface Rescue Swimmer School, NAS Jacksonville, FL Aircraft Carrier Tactical Support Center (CV-TSC), NAS Jacksonville, FL Aviation Support Detachment (ASD) Mayport, FL
Commander, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing, Atlantic Fleet (COMHELSEACOMBATWINGLANT) HM-12 Sea Dragons (FRS) HM-15 Blackhawks (Expeditionary) HSC-2 Fleet Angels (FRS) HSC-5 Nightdippers HSC-7 Dusty Dogs HSC-9 Tridents HSC-11 Dragonslayers HSC-22 Sea Knights (Expeditionary) HSC-26 Chargers (Expeditionary) HSC-28 Dragon Whales (Expeditionary) Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School, Atlantic (HSCWSL)
Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group (COMPATRECONGRU) (Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group is dual hatted as Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group Pacific. S/He commands the Pacific Fleet Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing TEN under that hat) VP-30 Pro's Nest (FRS) Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Weapons School (MPRWS) (PATRECONFORLANT DET AMPO Jacksonville) Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 (COMPATRECONWING ELEVEN DET AIMD) VP-5 Mad Foxes VP-8 Tigers VP-10 Red Lancers VP-16 War Eagles VP-26 Tridents VP-45 Pelicans VUP-19, Jacksonville, Fla. Tactical Support Center (TSC), Rota Tactical Support Center (TSC), Sigonella
Miscellaneous commands VX-1, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, MD Landing Signal Officer School Fleet Air Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC) Jacksonville Fleet Air Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC) Virginia Capes (VACAPES)
See also List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962) / List of US Naval aircraft Military aviation Modern US Navy carrier air operations Naval aviation Naval Flight Officer United States Marine Corps Aviation United States Naval Aviator United States Pacific Fleet List of United States Navy aircraft wings List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons Commander, Naval Air Forces
References
External links Official website COMNAVAIRLANT story archive – U.S. Navy Command History – COMNAVAIRLANT Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet – Facebook