The United States Department of the Air Force (DAF) is one of the three military departments within the United States Department of Defense. The Department of the Air Force was formed on September 18, 1947, per the National Security Act of 1947 (codified into Title 10 of the United States Code) and it is the military department within which the United States Air Force and the United States Space Force are organized.
The Department of the Air Force is headed by the secretary of the Air Force (SAF/OS), a civilian, who has the authority to conduct all of its affairs, subject to the authority, direction and control of the secretary of defense. The secretary of the Air Force's principal deputy is the under secretary of the Air Force (SAF/US). Their senior staff assistants in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force are five assistant secretaries for acquisition, technology & logistics; energy, installations & environment; financial management & comptroller; manpower & reserve affairs; and space acquisition & integration and a general counsel. The highest-ranking military officers in the department, and senior military advisers to the secretary, are the chief of staff of the Air Force and chief of space operations.
By direction of the secretary of defense, the secretary of the Air Force assigns Air Force and Space Force units – apart from those units performing duties enumerated in unless otherwise directed – to the combatant commands. Only the secretary of defense and the president have the authority to approve a transfer of forces between combatant commands.
Proposed redesignations
As the Department of the Aerospace Force In 1981, Congressman Ken Kramer introduced legislation to rename the Department of the Air Force as the Department of the Aerospace Force, along with renaming the United States Air Force as the United States Aerospace Force, to reorient the service and department from an air force to an aerospace force. The legislation would also have established a space command within the Aerospace Force and renamed the Air National Guard to the Aerospace National Guard. The legislation was cosponsored by Representatives G. William Whitehurst, Ike Skelton, and Robin Beard of the United States House Committee on Armed Services. Although the legislation was supported by General James E. Hill, who commanded North American Aerospace Defense Command and Aerospace Defense Command, the Air Force did not support the name change and the legislation did not pass.
As the Department of the Air and Space Forces
Following the United States Space Force's establishment, calls have been made for the Department of the Air Force to rename itself the Department of the Air and Space Forces to acknowledge the Space Force, similar to calls made for the Department of the Navy to rename itself the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. SpaceNews reported that a proposed name change was considered in 2018, and in 2019 the Air Force Association also called for renaming the department. In 2022, the Air Force Association renamed itself the Air & Space Forces Association, internally acting on its proposal to reflect the Space Force in the organization's name. In a 2021 article in the Space Force Journal, two Space Force officers also proposed a name change for the department.
Congress has also proposed a variety of name changes within the Department of the Air Force to recognize the Space Force's establishment, including a 2022 proposal by the U.S. Senate to rename the Air National Guard to the Air and Space National Guard and 2020 proposal to rename the Airman's Medal the Air and Space Force Medal, mirroring the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.
Organizational structure
The Department of the Air Force is divided into the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, which is led by the United States secretary of the Air Force, the Air Staff which is led by the chief of staff of the Air Force, and the Space Staff which is led by the chief of space operations."Air Force Senior Leaders". Retrieved on 14 December 2017
The Department of the Air Force consists of the United States Air Force, United States Space Force, and Air Force Civilian Service.
Headquarters Department of the Air Force
Secretariat Office of the Secretary of the Air Force SAF/OS – Secretary of the Air Force SAF/US – Under Secretary of the Air Force SAF/IA – DUSAF for International Affairs SAF/MG – DUSAF for Management SAF/AQ – ASAF for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics SAF/FM – ASAF for Financial Management & Comptroller SAF/IE – ASAF for Energy, Installations & Environment SAF/MR – ASAF for Manpower & Reserve Affairs SAF/SA – Director for Air Force Studies and Analysis SAF/SQ – ASAF for Space Acquisition and Integration SAF/AM – Administration Management for the Secretary SAF/AG – Auditor General of the Department of the Air Force SAF/CN - Chief Information Officer of the Air Force SAF/GC – General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force SAF/IG – Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force SAF/LL – Legislative Liaison SAF/PA – Director of Public Affairs SAF/SB – Director of Small Business Programs SAF/OC - Director, Competitive Activities
Service staffs Air Staff AF/CC – Chief of Staff of the Air Force AF/CV – Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force CMSAF – Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force AF/DS – Air Force Director of Staff A1 – DCS for Manpower, Personnel and Services A2/6 – DCS for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations A3 – DCS for Operations, Plans and Requirements A5 – DCS for Strategy, Integration and Requirements A4/7 – DCS for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection A8 – DCS for Plans and Programs A9 – Director for Studies, Analysis and Assessments A10 – DCS for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration AF/CVS – Director of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response AF/HC – Chief of Chaplains AF/HO – Air Force Historian AF/JA – Judge Advocate General of the Air Force AF/SE – Chief of Safety of the Air Force AF/SG – Surgeon General of the Air Force AF/ST – Chief Scientist of the Air Force AF/TE – Director of Test and Evaluation AF/RE - Chief of Air Force Reserve NGB/CF – Director of Air National Guard Space Staff Chief of Space Operations Vice Chief of Space Operations Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Director of Staff for Personnel DCSO for Intelligence DCSO for Operations DCSO for Strategy, Plans, Programs, Requirements and Analysis DCSO for Cyber and Data
Service branches Structure of the United States Air Force Structure of the United States Space Force
History The Air Corps Act of 1926 (44 Stat. 780), passed on July 2 of that year,Time: "Job No. 2" created a second assistant secretary position in the War Department variously called "Assistant Secretary of War for Aviation," "Assistant Secretary of War for Air," or "Assistant Secretary of War for Aeronautics." Those holding the office, with an eight-year vacancy between 1933 and 1941, were F. Trubee Davison (1926–1933),Time: "New Amphibian" Robert A. Lovett (1941–1945),Time: "Methodists & Businessmen " and Stuart Symington (1946–1947), who became the first United States Secretary of the Air Force.Time: "Line-Up"
Budget The Department of the Air Force Budget Overview as of 2027.https://www.af.mil/Portals/1/documents/Secretariat%20of%20the%20AF/SAF-FM/Budget%20-%202027/Supporting%20Docs/FY27%20Budget%20Overview.pdf?ver=7hl86QkYQPIRHTJhhh4jHg%3D%3D +Department of the Air ForceTotal Budget Request Summary Department of the Air Force FY 2026 EnactedFY 2027 Request (Total PBR)Delta FY26 - FY27Operation and Maintenance82,283101,508 +19,225Military Personnel46,20748,710 +2,503Research Development Test & Evaluation 65,58598,247 +32,662Procurement46,03373,331 +27,298Military Construction & Family Housing6,12012,560 +6,440Working Capital Fund904,440 +4,350Total Department 246,318338,798+92,480 *$ in Million ($M)
Numbers may not add due to rounding
See also Awards and decorations of the United States Department of the Air Force Structure of the United States Air Force Department of the Air Force Police Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
Notes and references
Bibliography Grossman, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of the United States Cabinet: 1789-2010 (Grey House, 2010) in-depth history of the department and its leaders. online
"Airman Magazine: The Book 2010 – Personnel Facts and Figures". Airman Magazine, Volume 54 Number 3.
External links
Official website of the Air Force Official website of the Space Force
Department of Defense on USAspending.gov