The Commander, Naval Air Forces ( COMNAVAIRFOR, and CNAF; and dual-hatted as Commander, Naval Air Force, Pacific, and COMNAVAIRPAC) is the aviation Type Commander (TYCOM) for all

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

naval aviation units. 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. AIRFOR is responsible for the materiel readiness, administration, training, and inspection of units/squadrons under their command, and for providing operationally ready air squadrons and aircraft carriers to the fleet. COMNAVAIRFOR is a three-star headquarters, based at

NAS North Island Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado ...

Coronado, California Coronado (Spanish language, Spanish for "Crowned") is a resort town, resort city in San Diego County, California, United States, across San Diego Bay from downtown San Diego. It was founded in the 1880s and incorporated in 1890. Its population ...

. The current commander is VADM

Daniel Cheever Daniel Lyle Cheever (born 1963) is a United States Navy vice admiral who has served as Commander, Naval Air Forces since 31 January 2024. He most recently served as chief of staff of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States ...

. The staff is made up of about 515 officer, enlisted, civilian and contractor personnel. The position is colloquially known throughout the Navy as "the Air Boss", mimicking the nickname given to the officer who commands the air department on an aircraft carrier.

Mission

"Man, train, and equip deployable, combat-ready naval Aviation forces that win in combat."

Naval Aviation Enterprise

Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF), also known as the "Air Boss," is the senior Navy leader of the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) and is responsible for all Naval Aviation programs, personnel and assets. CNAF is a dual-hatted position where the incumbent concurrently functions as Commander Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC). CNAF is supported by Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMNAVAIRLANT);

Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve The Naval Air Force Reserve (NAFR, also known by its head, the Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve, abbreviated CNAFR) is the naval aviation component of the United States Navy Reserve. Headquartered at Naval Air Station North Island, California ...

(COMNAVAIRES); the

Chief of Naval Air Training The Naval Air Training Command (NATRACOM) is a one-star Echelon III command that conducts flight training of student Naval Aviators, student Naval Flight Officers and student Air Vehicle Pilots (AVP). Though it does not conduct Aircrew Badge#U.S ...

(CNATRA); and the Commander, Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC). The NAE encompasses all of Naval Aviation and has three, three-star leaders. In addition to the Commander Naval Air Forces, these leaders are the U.S. Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Aviation and the commander of

Naval Air Systems Command The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) provides materiel support for aeronaval aircraft and airborne weapon systems for the United States Navy. It is one of the Echelon II Navy systems commands (SYSCOM), and was established in 1966 as the succe ...

(COMNAVAIRSYSCOM). Within the NAE there are about 3,800 sea-based and shore-based aircraft that perform strike/fighter, electronic attack, airborne early warning, maritime patrol and reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine/sub-surface warfare, strategic communications relay, search and rescue (SAR), helicopter mine countermeasures, training, and logistical support missions. These assets include 11 aircraft carriers and approximately 100,000 active and reserve military personnel, as well as Department of the Navy civilians and contractors.

History

In October 1919, Air Detachment, Pacific Fleet came into existence, making naval aviation formally part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The original organization was divided into Landplane, Shipplane and Seaplane divisions. Within a brief period, the three divisions evolved into Fighting, Spotting and Seaplane Patrol Squadrons, respectively. The purpose of air detachments was: "attack on enemy aircraft, spotting gunfire for surface craft torpedo attack by torpedo planes, demolition, toxic gas and incendiary bomb attack, smoke and gas screen laying, mine and countermining; flare dropping; scouting reconnaissance, patrol and convoy duty; photography, mapping, detection of enemy coastal defenses and mail passenger service." In June 1922 as part of a reorganization combining the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets into the U.S. Fleet, the detachment was renamed Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet. In 1933, another reorganization established two principal commands: Commander Aircraft Battle Force and Commander Tender-based Aircraft. Commander, Air Pacific was established during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

as the requirements of supporting air combat units widely deployed in the Pacific Ocean area increased. Finding much inefficiency in the various administrative commands within naval aviation,

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

Chester W. Nimitz Chester William Nimitz (; 24 February 1885 – 20 February 1966) was a fleet admiral in the United States Navy. He played a major role in the naval history of World War II as Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet, and Commander in Chief, ...

, Commander in Chief,

United States Pacific Fleet The United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) is a theater-level component command of the United States Navy, located in the Pacific Ocean. It provides naval forces to the Indo-Pacific Command. Fleet headquarters is at Joint Base Pearl Harbor� ...

, directed a consolidation of various administrative functions for a more efficient command structure. This new command became Air Pacific Fleet, "to function as a Type Commander for fleet aircraft, to prepare general policy and doctrine for the operation of aviation units, to recommend the types, characteristics and numbers of aircraft required, and to carry out the strategic distribution of all air units in the Pacific area." On July 29, 1942, Admiral

Ernest King Ernest Joseph King (23 November 1878 – 25 June 1956) was a Fleet admiral (United States), fleet admiral in the United States Navy who served as Commander in Chief, United States Fleet (COMINCH) and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) during Worl ...

approved the recommendation and thus established Commander U.S. Naval Air Force, Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC), effective September 1, 1942. Vice Admiral

John Henry Towers John Henry Towers CBE (January 30, 1885 – April 30, 1955) was a highly decorated United States Navy four-star Admiral (United States), admiral and pioneer naval aviator. He made important contributions to the technical and organizational develo ...

became its commander soon afterwards. In May 1949, the headquarters was moved from

Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Reci ...

, Hawaii to

Naval Air Station, North Island Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado (N ...

, California. In October 2001, the

Chief of Naval Operations The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the highest-ranking officer of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an Admiral (United States), admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the United States Secretary ...

redesignated

Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet 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 Comman ...

(AIRPAC's East Coast counterpart) from a three star command into a two star command and placed it under AIRPAC's command in a "Lead-Follow" arrangement. Under this arrangement COMNAVAIRPAC became TYCOM for Air, and assumed the additional title of Commander, Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR). The Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) and the Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (COMNAVAIRES) were also subsequently placed under the aegis of COMNAVAIRFOR.

Past commanders

# Vice Admiral John B. Nathman (August 2000 – August 2, 2002) # Vice Admiral Michael D. Malone (August 2, 2002 – August 17, 2004) # Vice Admiral James M. "Jim" Zortman (August 17, 2004 – June 22, 2007) # Vice Admiral Thomas J. "Tom" Kilcline Jr. (June 22, 2007 – July 1, 2010) # Vice Admiral Allen G. "Al" Myers IV (July 1, 2010 – October 4, 2012) # Vice Admiral David H. Buss (October 4, 2012 – January 22, 2015) # Vice Admiral Troy M. "Mike" Shoemaker (January 22, 2015 – January 11, 2018) # Vice Admiral

DeWolfe Miller III DeWolfe H. "Chip" Miller III (born 1959) is a former Vice admiral (United States), vice admiral in the United States Navy who retired as the Commander, Naval Air Forces (aka "the Air Boss"), which is also Type Commander (TYCOM) for all United State ...

(January 11, 2018 – October 2, 2020) # Vice Admiral Kenneth R. Whitesell (October 2, 2020 – September 7, 2023) # Vice Admiral

(January 31, 2024 – present)

Subordinate commands

Commander, Fleet Air, Western Pacific (COMFAIRWESTPAC)

Commander, Patrol And Reconnaissance Group, Pacific

Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing TEN

VQ-1 Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1 (VQ-1) was an aviation unit of the United States Navy established on 1 June 1955. Its role was aerial reconnaissance and signals intelligence. The squadron was nicknamed the "World Watchers" and was based at ...

World Watchers *

VP-1 Patrol Squadron One (VP-1), established 15 February 1943, is an active aviation squadron (aviation), squadron of the United States Navy operating the Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft from its home port at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washingto ...

Screaming Eagles *

VP-4 Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) is a U.S. Navy land-based patrol squadron based at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington, which is tasked to undertake maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and intelligence, surveillan ...

Skinny Dragons *

VP-9 Patrol Squadron 9 (VP-9) is a U.S. Navy patrol squadron with its homeport located at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. As of 2018, VP-9 is part of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Ten, Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific. The squadron was esta ...

Golden Eagles *

VP-40 VP-40 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 55 (VP-55) on 1 August 1940, redesignated Patrol Squadron 74 (VP-74) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 74 (VPB-74) on 1 October 19 ...

Fighting Marlins *

VP-46 Patrol Squadron 46 (VP-46), also known as the "Grey Knights", is a maritime patrol squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Part of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Ten, VP-46 is the oldest maritime ...

Grey Knights *

VP-47 Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47), also known as "The Golden Swordsmen", is a maritime patrol squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington (USA), attached to Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10. The squadron ...

Golden Swordsmen

Carrier Air Wing Two Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The air wing is currently attached to the aircraft carrier . Subordinate units CVW-2 consists of 8 squadrons and 1 detachment (V ...

Carrier Air Wing Five Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier . It was initially formed in 1943. It has participated in the Second World ...

Carrier Air Wing Nine Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The Air Wing is currently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). The Tail Code of aircraft assigned to ...

Carrier Air Wing Eleven Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier .Carrier Air Wing Fourteen Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14), was a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. Mission To conduct carrier air warfare operations and assist in the planning, control, coordination and integr ...

Carrier Air Wing Seventeen Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17), is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier . Mission To conduct carrier air warfare operations and assi ...

Commander, Airborne Command, Control, Logistics Wing (COMACCLOGWING)

Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)

Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING)

VFA-97 Strike Fighter Squadron 97 (VFA-97) is a naval aviation Squadron (aviation), squadron of the United States Navy. It is equipped with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, F-35C Lightning II and is stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The sq ...

Warhawks *

VFA-125 Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125), also known as the "Rough Raiders", is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The "Rough Raiders" are a Fleet Replacement Squadron flying the F-35C Li ...

Rough Raiders ( FRS) *

VFA-147 Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147), also known as the "Argonauts," is a United States Navy Fighter-bomber, strike fighter Squadron (aviation), squadron based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, MCAS Iwaukuni, Japan. VFA-147 was established o ...

Argonauts

Commander, Electronic Attack Wing, Pacific (COMVAQWINGPAC)

VAQ-129 Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) is the United States Navy's only EA-18G Growler training squadron. Known as the "Vikings", they are a Fleet Replacement Squadron, or FRS, and are charged with training all EA-18G aviators and developing s ...

Vikings ( FRS) *

VAQ-130 Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), also known as the "Zappers", is an EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy based aboard Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Part of Carrier Air Wing 3, the ''Zappers'' deploy aboard the aircraft ...

Zappers *

VAQ-131 Electronic Attack Squadron 131 (VAQ-131), also known as the "Lancers," is a United States Navy tactical jet aircraft squadron specializing in kinetic and non-kinetic Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). They are based at Naval Air Station W ...

Lancers *

VAQ-132 Electromagnetic Attack Squadron 132 (VAQ-132), the "Scorpions", is a United States Navy aircraft squadron based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, flying the EA-18G Growler. The squadron's radio callsign is "Scorp". History Electronic Warfa ...

Scorpions (Expeditionary) *

VAQ-133 Electromagnetic Attack Squadron 133 (VAQ-133) is an EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Beginning in 2013, the squadron began the transition from the EA-6B to the EA-18G. Upon ...

Wizards *

VAQ-134 Electronic Attack Squadron 134 (VAQ-134) is an electromagnetic warfare Squadron (aviation), squadron of the United States Navy. It is nicknamed "Garudas" and is based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington (State), Washington. The squad ...

Garudas (Expeditionary) * VAQ-135 Black Ravens (Expeditionary) * VAQ-136 Gauntlets * VAQ-137 Rooks *

VAQ-138 Electronic Attack Squadron 138 (VAQ-138), also known as the "Yellow Jackets", is an expeditionary EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Squadron history 1970s–1990s VAQ-138 ...

Yellowjackets (Expeditionary) *

VAQ-139 Electromagnetic Attack Squadron 139 (VAQ-139), also known as the "Cougars", is an EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy. They specialize in electromagnetic attack and are currently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washi ...

Cougars * VAQ-140 Patriots *

VAQ-141 Electromagnetic Attack Squadron 141 (VAQ-141), also known as the "Shadowhawks", is an Boeing EA-18G Growler, EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy that is based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, located in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, Japa ...

Shadowhawks (

MCAS Iwakuni is a joint Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces and United States Marine Corps air station located in the Nishiki river delta, southeast of Iwakuni Station in the city of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. History The Japanese government ...

, Japan) * VAQ-142 Gray Wolves * VAQ-144 Main Battery *Electronic Attack Weapons School (EAWS)

Commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Pacific (COMHSMWINGPAC)

* HSM-35 Magicians (Expeditionary) *

HSM-37 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Three Seven (HSM-37) "Easyriders" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. HSM-37 provides helicopter resources for all s and s based at Pearl Harbor. The squadron was es ...

Easyriders (Expeditionary) * HSM-41 Seahawks ( FRS) * HSM-49 Scorpions (Expeditionary) *

HSM-51 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Five One (HSM-51), also known as "Warlords," is a United States Navy helicopter squadron stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, located in Ayabe, Kyoto, Ayase City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. HSM-51 ...

Warlords (Expeditionary) (

NAF Atsugi is a joint Japan-US naval air base located in the cities of Yamato, Kanagawa, Yamato and Ayase, Kanagawa, Ayase in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kanagawa, Japan. It is the largest United States Navy (USN) air base in the Pacific Ocean, and once housed ...

, Japan) * HSM-71 Raptors * HSM-73 Battle Cats * HSM-75 Wolfpack *

HSM-77 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven Seven (HSM-77) "Saberhawks" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan. HSM-77 is attached to Carrier Air Wing Five and deploys aboard the and air capable sh ...

Saberhawks (

, Japan) *HSM-78 Blue Hawks * Helicopter Maritime Strike Weapons School Pacific (HSMWSP)

Commander, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific (COMHSCWINGPAC)

* HSC-3 Merlins ( FRS) *

HSC-4 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Four (HSC-4) (previously Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Four (HS-4)), also known as the Black Knights, is a multi-role combat helicopter squadron (aviation), squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Air ...

Black Knights * HSC-6 Indians * HSC-8 Eightballers * HSC-12 Golden Falcon (

, Japan) * HSC-14 Chargers *

HSC-21 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 (HSC-21), nicknamed "Blackjacks", is an aviation unit of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station North Island. HSC-21 is made up of five expeditionary detachments that deploy aboard ships including C ...

Blackjacks (Expeditionary) * HSC-23 Wildcards (Expeditionary) * HSC-25 Island Knights (Expeditionary) (

Andersen AFB Andersen Air Force Base (Andersen AFB, AAFB) is a United States Air Force base located primarily within the village of Yigo in the United States territory of Guam. The host unit at Andersen AFB is the 36th Wing (36 WG), assigned to the Pacifi ...

, Guam) *Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Pacific (HSCWSP)

Commander, Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Wing (VRMWING)

* VRM-30 Titans *VRM-40 Mighty Bisons *VRM-50 Sunhawks ( FRS)

Commander, Strategic Communications Wing ONE (COMSTRATCOMWING ONE)
(
Tinker Air Force Base Tinker Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, adjacent to Del City and Midwest City. The ba ...
, Oklahoma)

VQ-3 Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 3 (VQ-3), nicknamed the ''Ironmen'', is a naval aviation squadron of the United States Navy based at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma (United States). The squadron flies the Boeing E-6B Mercury airborne command ...

Ironman *

VQ-4 Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 4 (VQ-4), nicknamed the Shadows, is a naval aviation squadron of the United States Navy based at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The squadron flies the Boeing E-6B Mercury airborne command post and communicat ...

Shadows * VQ-7 ( FRS)

Commander, Naval Air Training Command (CNATRA)

Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron (NFDS) "Blue Angels"

Commander,
Training Air Wing One Training Air Wing ONE (TW-1 or TRAWING 1) is a United States Navy aircraft training air wing based aboard Naval Air Station Meridian, located 11 miles northeast of Meridian, Mississippi, Meridian, Mississippi in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, La ...
(TRAWING ONE)

*VT-7 Eagles * VT-9 Tigers

Commander, Training Air Wing Two (TRAWING TWO)

*VT-21 Red Hawks *VT-22 Golden Eagles

Commander,
Training Air Wing Four Training is teaching, or developing in oneself or others, any skills and knowledge or fitness that relate to specific useful competencies. Training has specific goals of improving one's capability, capacity, productivity and performance. It ...
(TRAWING FOUR)

* VT-27 Boomers *

VT-28 The VT-28 "Rangers" is a U.S. Navy primary flight training squadron based at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. History VT-28 was initially established as Advanced Training Unit 611 (ATU-611). The Rangers began as an advanced multi-engi ...

Rangers *VT-31 Wise Owls *VT-35 Stingrays

Commander,
Training Air Wing Five Training Air Wing Five (TW-5 or TRAWING 5) is a United States Navy aircraft training air wing based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, in Milton, FL. TW-5 is one of five training wings in the Naval Air Training Command, and consists of three Un ...
(TRAWING FIVE)

*VT-2 Doerbirds *VT-3 Red Knights *VT-6 Shooters * HT-8 Eightballers *

HT-18 Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHTEEN (HT-18) is a United States Navy helicopter training squadron based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. The squadron's mission is helicopter pilot training for U. S. Navy, U. S. Marine Cor ...

Vigilant Eagles *

HT-28 Helicopter Training Squadron 28 (HT-28) is a United States Navy helicopter training squadron based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. The squadron, known as the ''Hellions'', is one of three Advanced Helicopter Training squa ...

Hellions

Commander, Training Air Wing Six (TRAWING SIX)

* VT-4 Warbucks * VT-10 Wildcats *

VT-86 Training Squadron EIGHT SIX (VT-86), also known as the "Sabrehawks," is a United States Navy advanced jet training squadron based at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Training Squadron 86 is a tenant command of Training Air Wing 6. They ...

Sabrehawks

References

External links

* {{US Navy navbox Type commands of the United States Navy *Commander Naval Air United States naval aviation