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 maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

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 in

Coronado, California Coronado (Spanish for "Crowned") is a resort city located in San Diego County, California, United States, across the San Diego Bay from downtown San Diego. It was founded in the 1880s and incorporated in 1890. Its population was 24,697 at the ...

. The current commander is VADM Kenneth R. Whitesell. The staff is made up of approximately 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 (NAE)

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, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC). CNAF is supported by Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMNAVAIRLANT); Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (COMNAVAIRES); the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA); and the Commander,

Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center The Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC, pronounced NAW-DIK) was formerly known as the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC, pronounced "EN-SOCK") at Naval Air Station Fallon located in the city of Fallon in western Neva ...

(NAWDC). The NAE encompasses all of Naval Aviation and has three, three-star leaders. In addition to Air Boss, these leaders are the U.S. Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Aviation and the commander of Naval Air Systems Command (COMNAVAIRSYSCOM). Within the NAE there are approximately 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, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

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 some 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, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

Chester W. Nimitz Chester William Nimitz (; February 24, 1885 – February 20, 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 C ...

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

, 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 professional head of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the secretary of the Navy. In a separate capacity as a memb ...

redesignated

Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (a. k. a. 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 Co ...

(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 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 States Navy aviation units, and du ...

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

Subordinate commands

*Commander, Fleet Air, Western Pacific (COMFAIRWESTPAC) * * * * * * * *

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 attached to the aircraft carrier . Subordinate units CVW-2 consists of 9 Squadrons History 1940s-50s Origi ...

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 Wor ...

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 C ...

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 *Commander, Airborne Command, Control, Logistics Wing (COMACCLOGWING) *Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) *Commander, Patrol And Reconnaissance Group, Pacific ** Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing TWO *** VP-9 Golden Eagles ***

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 curr ...

Golden Swordsmen ***VPU-2 Wizards ** Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing TEN *** VQ-1 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, Washington ...

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, surveillance ...

Skinny Dragons *** VP-40 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 pa ...

Gray Knights ***

VP-69 VP-69 is a Patrol Squadron of the United States Navy Reserve. The squadron was established on 1 November 1970. Operational history *1 November 1970: VP-69 was established at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, as a Naval Air Reserve land-based patr ...

Fighting Totems (Naval Air Reserve) *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 st ...

Vikings ( FRS) ** VAQ-130 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 Whid ...

Lancers **

VAQ-132 Electronic 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 Warfare Squad ...

Scorpions (Expeditionary) ** VAQ-133 Wizards **

VAQ-134 Electronic Attack Squadron 134 (VAQ-134) is an electronic 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 squadron is ...

Garudas (Expeditionary) ** VAQ-135 Black Ravens (Expeditionary) **

VAQ-136 Electronic Attack Squadron 136 (VAQ-136) also known as "The Gauntlets" is a United States Navy electronic attack squadron flying the EA-18G Growler and is currently attached to Carrier Air Wing Two, a composite unit made up of a wide array of airc ...

Gauntlets **

VAQ-137 Electronic Attack Squadron 137 (VAQ-137) also known as the "Rooks", is a United States Navy electronic attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Washington, flying the Boeing EA-18G Growler. The squadron is attached to Carrier Air W ...

Rooks **

VAQ-138 Electronic Attack Squadron 138 (VAQ-138), also known as the "Yellow Jackets", is an expeditionary Boeing EA-18G Growler, EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington (U.S. state), Washin ...

Yellowjackets (Expeditionary) **

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

Cougars ** VAQ-140 Patriots **

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

Shadowhawks ( NAF Atsugi, Japan) ** VAQ-142 Gray Wolves **Electronic Attack Weapons School (EAWS) *Commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Pacific (COMHSMWINGPAC) ** HSM-35 Magicians (Expeditionary) ** HSM-37 Easyriders (Expeditionary) **

HSM-41 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 41 (HSM-41) Seahawks is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at NAS North Island, San Diego, California. History Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 41 (HSM 41) is the Navy's Fleet Replacement Squad ...

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

HSM-51 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Five One (HSM-51) "WARLORDS" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at the Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Ayase City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. HSM-51 one of the seven squadrons making up th ...

Warlords (Expeditionary) ( NAF Atsugi, Japan) **

HSM-71 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven One (HSM-71) is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California. Nicknamed the "Raptors", they are attached to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) and dep ...

Raptors **

HSM-73 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 (HSM-73) is a United States Navy Maritime Strike helicopter squadron based on Naval Air Station North Island, California. HSM-73 is the home of the Battlecats. They fly the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter in a ...

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 and air capable ships at ...

Saberhawks ( NAF Atsugi, Japan) **HSM-78 Blue Hawks **

HSM-79 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven Nine (HSM-79) "Griffins" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island, California, United States. The unit operates the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk which provides deplo ...

Griffins ** Helicopter Maritime Strike Weapons School Pacific (HSMWSP) *Commander, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific (COMHSCWINGPAC) **

HSC-3 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron THREE (HELSEACOMBATRON 3 or HSC-3) (previously Helicopter Combat Support Squadron THREE (HELSUPPRON 3 or HC-3)), also known as the "Merlins", is a United States Navy multi-role combat helicopter squadron based at Nava ...

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 of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station North Island w ...

Black Knights ** HSC-6 Indians **

HSC-8 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight (HSC-8) "Eightballers" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California. HSC-8 is attached to Carrier Air Wing 11 ( CVW-11) and deploys aboard . HSC-8 w ...

Eightballers **

HSC-12 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 (HSC-12) ''Golden Falcons'' is a United States Navy helicopter squadron formerly designated HS-2, based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, in Japan. They are attached to Carrier Air Wing Five with the aircraft carrier ...

Golden Falcon ( NAF Atsugi, Japan) ** HSC-14 Chargers ** HSC-15 Red Lions **

HSC-25 Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25) "Island Knights" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The "Island Knights" of HSC-25 fly the MH-60S "Knighthawk" helicopter, manufactured by Sikorsky Ai ...

Island Knights (Expeditionary) ( Anderson AFB, Guam) **

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 Comb ...

Blackjacks (Expeditionary) ** HSC-23 Wildcards (Expeditionary) **Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Pacific (HSCWSP) *Commander,

Strategic Communications Wing ONE Strategic Communications Wing 1 (STRATCOMWING ONE) is a nuclear command and control wing of the United States Navy. Its TACAMO ("Take Charge and Move Out") mission provides airborne communications links to nuclear missile units of United States S ...

(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 County, Oklahoma, surrounded by Del City, Oklahoma City, and Midwest City. The base, origina ...

, 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 po ...

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 communication ...

Shadows ** VQ-7 ( FRS) *Commander, Naval Air Training Command (CNATRA) **Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron (NFDS) " Blue Angels" **Commander, Training Air Wing One (TRAWING ONE) ***VT-7 Eagles ***

VT-9 The VT-9 Tigers is one of four U.S. Navy strike jet training squadrons and one of two based at Naval Air Station Meridian in Mississippi (The other two being based at Naval Air Station Kingsville in Texas). History Training Squadron NINE (VT-9) i ...

Tigers **Commander,

Training Air Wing Two Training Air Wing TWO (TW-2 or TRAWING 2) is a United States Navy aircraft training air wing based aboard Naval Air Station Kingsville, in Kingsville, Texas. TW-2 is one of five training air wings in the Naval Air Training Command, and consists of ...

(TRAWING TWO) ***VT-21 Read 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. I ...

(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-engine ...

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 Unite ...

(TRAWING FIVE) ***VT-2 Doerbirds ***VT-3 Red Knights ***VT-6 Shooters ***

HT-8 Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHT (HT-8) is a United States Navy helicopter training squadron based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, FL. The squadron's mission is helicopter pilot training for U. S. Navy, U. S. Marine Corps and U. ...

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 Corps ...

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 squadro ...

Hellions **Commander,

Training Air Wing Six 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. I ...

(TRAWING SIX) *** VT-4 Warbucks ***

VT-10 Training Squadron TEN (VT-10) is a training squadron of the United States Navy. The squadron is homebased at NAS Pensacola, Florida. General information *Basic and intermediate flight school for Naval Flight Officers (NFO). VT-10 is tasked with ...

Wildcats *** VT-86 Sabrehawks

References

External links

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