Eighteenth Air Force
The Eighteenth Air Force (18 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force serving as the operational warfighting component of Air Mobility Command, tasked with organizing, training, equipping, and executing global air mobility operations including strategic and tactical airlift, aerial refueling, aeromedical evacuation, and airdrop in contested environments.[1] Headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, it oversees more than 400 aircraft such as C-17 Globemasters, KC-46 Pegasus tankers, and C-130 Hercules, supported by approximately 19,000 active duty, Reserve, and civilian personnel who enable rapid deployment of combat power and sustainment worldwide.[1] Originally activated on March 28, 1951, at Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina, as the Eighteenth Air Force (Troop Carrier) under Tactical Air Command to conduct troop carrier training and operations in support of the Korean War, it achieved unprecedented global combat airlift capabilities during its initial tenure before inactivation on January 1, 1958.[1][2] Reactivated on October 1, 2003, amid Air Mobility Command's reorganization to enhance force presentation to warfighters, 18 AF now integrates airlift and refueling under a unified command structure, directing missions through the 618th Air Operations Center and ensuring readiness for joint and coalition operations.[1][3] Under the command of Maj. Gen. Charles D. Bolton as of 2025, it continues to prioritize agile mobility forces capable of operating anytime, anywhere against peer adversaries.[4][5]Overview
Establishment and Current Role
The Eighteenth Air Force was initially established as the Eighteenth Air Force (Troop Carrier) on 7 March 1951 and organized on 28 March 1951 at Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina, under Tactical Air Command, with its primary mission focused on troop carrier operations to support ground forces through rapid airlift capabilities.[6] It was redesignated as the Eighteenth Air Force without the troop carrier parenthetical on 26 June 1951, reflecting its expanded role in tactical air mobility during the early Cold War era.[7] Following inactivation in 1958, the Eighteenth Air Force was reactivated on 1 October 2003 at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, as part of a major reorganization within Air Mobility Command to consolidate and streamline global air mobility warfighting functions.[3] This reactivation merged elements of the former Fifteenth and Twenty-First Air Forces, establishing it as Air Mobility Command's sole active-duty numbered air force dedicated to operational execution.[3] In its current role, the Eighteenth Air Force serves as the Air Force component to the United States Transportation Command, providing combat-ready air mobility forces for global operations, including air refueling, strategic and tactical airlift, and aeromedical evacuation.[1] Headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, it oversees approximately 36,000 personnel and manages the global air mobility enterprise through the 618th Air Operations Center, ensuring rapid deployment and sustainment in contested environments to support joint force requirements.[1][3] Its mission emphasizes delivering agile, flexible capabilities anytime and anywhere to meet national security demands.[8]Organizational Placement within Air Mobility Command
The Eighteenth Air Force (18 AF) serves as a Numbered Air Force (NAF) subordinate to Air Mobility Command (AMC), functioning as its primary operational component for synchronizing and executing global air mobility missions. Headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, 18 AF was reactivated on October 1, 2003, to consolidate AMC's warfighting elements, including airlift, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation forces, under a unified structure aligned with joint force requirements.[3][9] Within AMC's hierarchy, 18 AF oversees the readiness and deployment of approximately 36,000 active-duty, Air Force Reserve Command, and civilian personnel, along with over 400 aircraft, to support U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) and combatant commanders. It integrates subordinate wings, groups, and the 618th Air Operations Center to manage mission execution, ensuring forces are trained, equipped, and rapidly deployable for contested environments. This placement positions 18 AF as the conduit between AMC's strategic planning at the major command level and tactical operations, emphasizing command and control for rapid global mobility.[3][10] On September 5, 2025, AMC realigned its NAF structure by reactivating the Twenty-First Air Force (21 AF) at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, transferring select units previously under 18 AF and the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center to 21 AF. This reorganization diversifies AMC's operational posture, enhances alignment with combatant commander needs, and refines mission sets without inactivating 18 AF, which retains core responsibilities for air mobility force presentation and global execution. The change reflects AMC's adaptation to evolving threats, maintaining 18 AF's central role in sustaining readiness for air refueling, strategic airlift, and expeditionary operations.[11][12]Mission and Operations
Core Capabilities in Global Reach
The Eighteenth Air Force executes Air Mobility Command's rapid global mobility mission by synchronizing airlift, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation to project and sustain joint forces in contested environments worldwide.[1] This capability ensures the delivery of combat power, logistics, and humanitarian support anytime, anywhere, underpinning U.S. strategic deterrence and response.[3] Through command of over 400 mobility aircraft—including C-17 Globemaster III for strategic airlift, KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-46 Pegasus for in-flight refueling, C-5 Galaxies for outsized cargo, and C-130 Hercules for intratheater operations—the force enables the rapid deployment of personnel, equipment, and supplies across global theaters.[1] Aerial refueling stands as the foundational element of global reach, extending the endurance and range of U.S. and coalition aircraft to facilitate long-distance strikes, reconnaissance, and sustainment without reliance on forward bases.[13] The 618th Air Operations Center, under Eighteenth Air Force direction, plans and directs these operations, integrating mobility assets with joint forces to achieve effects such as the 2024 execution of 24,100 missions, including 400 aeromedical evacuations and delivery of over 250 million pounds of security assistance cargo to Ukraine.[14] Such integration supports power projection in exercises like Bamboo Eagle and real-world contingencies, including humanitarian airdrops of 1 million meals into Gaza via 100 C-130J and C-17 sorties.[14] These capabilities are validated through persistent global operations, with the force overseeing approximately 36,000 Airmen across wings equipped for contested logistics, ensuring agility against peer adversaries by prioritizing force presentation and expeditionary response.[3] In 2024 demonstrations, such as Project Magellan—a 45-hour KC-46 circumnavigation—the Eighteenth Air Force highlighted endurance refueling to maintain operational tempo over vast distances.[14]Air Refueling, Airlift, and Aeromedical Evacuation
Eighteenth Air Force executes the air refueling component of Air Mobility Command's global mobility mission by directing tanker operations that enable extended range and endurance for U.S. and allied aircraft during combat, humanitarian, and deterrence operations. It oversees active-duty air refueling wings, including the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, equipped with approximately 3,000 personnel and KC-135 Stratotankers; the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas; and the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington.[15][1] These units support missions such as the July 24, 2025, refueling of a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon over the North Atlantic by the 100th Air Refueling Wing, demonstrating interoperability with joint forces.[16] Air refueling assets under Eighteenth Air Force include KC-135s, KC-46 Pegasus, and legacy platforms, contributing to over 400 total mobility aircraft managed by the command.[1] In airlift operations, Eighteenth Air Force provides rapid strategic and tactical transport of personnel, equipment, and supplies to sustain U.S. forces globally, enabling deployment within hours and logistical support in contested environments. Key units include the 317th Airlift Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, operating C-130J Super Hercules for theater airlift, as seen in Central Command area missions delivering critical cargo.[17] The force employs C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, and C-130 variants for heavy and outsized cargo, alongside executive airlift platforms like C-32A, C-37, C-40, and VC-25, supporting operations such as the July 18, 2025, bilateral airlift with the 130th Airlift Wing and U.S. Marine Corps at Kadena Air Base, Japan.[18][1] This capability underpins Air Mobility Command's role in projecting power, with Eighteenth Air Force directing airlift through the 618th Air Operations Center to integrate with joint and coalition partners.[10] Aeromedical evacuation missions under Eighteenth Air Force involve the transport of stabilized patients from forward locations to medical facilities using dedicated crews and configured aircraft, ensuring casualty survival rates exceed 98% in supported operations. The 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, based at Kadena Air Base, Japan, conducts readiness exercises like the May 13, 2025, mass casualty simulation and the Tactical Aeromedical Evacuation Synchronization exercise at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, integrating flight nurses, technicians, and litter teams.[19][20] Support from assets like KC-135s facilitates en route care, as in the November 13, 2023, mission at Fairchild AFB, while international training, such as the August 14, 2025, C-130J familiarization during Deployable Logistics Exercise, enhances multinational interoperability.[21][22] These efforts align with Air Mobility Command's doctrine for patient movement, prioritizing critical care during global contingencies.Subordinate Structure
618th Air Operations Center
The 618th Air Operations Center (AOC), also designated as the Tanker Airlift Control Center (TACC), functions as the primary command and control node for global air mobility within the United States Air Force. Headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, it reports to Eighteenth Air Force and directs the planning, tasking, execution, and assessment of operations involving nearly 1,100 mobility aircraft, such as the C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-10 Extender, and C-130 Hercules.[23] These efforts support strategic airlift, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation missions across all eleven unified combatant commands, commanding 100 to 150 sorties daily in a 24/7/365 operational posture.[24] Activated on April 1, 1992, following its establishment as the Air Mobility Command Tanker Airlift Control Center on February 25, 1992, the unit underwent redesignation as the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center on April 1, 2007, and as the 618th AOC (TACC) on August 30, 2010, to reflect evolving doctrinal alignments.[25] Manned by approximately 800 personnel—including active-duty Airmen, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard members, contractors, and civil servants—it operates as the Department of Defense's largest air operations center, integrating diverse components to synchronize air mobility with joint and coalition partners.[23] On May 18, 2020, the 618th AOC executed its most extensive organizational transformation in nearly 30 years, involving a full redesign of its structure to better incorporate joint all-domain command and control principles, enhance agility in contested environments, and streamline decision-making for high-tempo operations.[26] This realignment reinforced its subordination to Eighteenth Air Force, enabling more effective execution of rapid global mobility tasks, from routine sustainment to crisis response, while maintaining interoperability with U.S. Transportation Command requirements.[24]Assigned Wings, Groups, and Squadrons
The Eighteenth Air Force oversees eight active-duty wings that execute air refueling, strategic and tactical airlift, and aeromedical evacuation missions, supported by over 400 aircraft including C-5M Super Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Super Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker, and KC-46 Pegasus variants. Following the reactivation of the Twenty-First Air Force on September 5, 2025, and associated realignment of Air Mobility Command units, the Eighteenth Air Force retained responsibility for wings emphasizing strategic reach, tanker operations, and training, with approximately 19,000 personnel across these units and two direct reporting units.[11][10] These wings are organized into operations groups, maintenance groups, mission support groups, and medical groups, each comprising multiple squadrons dedicated to specific functions such as flying operations, aircraft maintenance, logistics, and base support. For instance, operations groups typically include airlift or refueling squadrons equipped with primary mission aircraft, alongside aeromedical evacuation and training squadrons. Maintenance squadrons handle propulsion, avionics, and munitions, ensuring 24/7 readiness for global deployments.| Wing | Location | Primary Mission and Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| 19th Airlift Wing | Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas | Tactical airlift with C-130J Super Hercules; supports special operations and intratheater mobility. |
| 22nd Air Refueling Wing | McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas | Strategic air refueling with KC-46 Pegasus; enables extended range for bombers and fighters. |
| 60th Air Mobility Wing | Travis Air Force Base, California | Combined airlift (C-5M, C-17) and refueling (KC-10A); focuses on Pacific theater power projection. |
| 62nd Airlift Wing | Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington | Strategic airlift with C-17 Globemaster III; paired with 446th Reserve Wing for total force integration. |
| 92nd Air Refueling Wing | Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington | Air refueling with KC-135 Stratotanker; supports global tanker bridge operations. |
| 97th Air Mobility Wing | Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma | Formal training for airlift and tanker aircrews on C-17, KC-46, and C-130; includes student squadrons. |
| 317th Airlift Wing | Dyess Air Force Base, Texas | Tactical airlift with C-130J; emphasizes austere field operations and airdrop capabilities. |
| 375th Air Mobility Wing | Scott Air Force Base, Illinois | Airlift (C-21A, C-40C) and limited refueling (KC-135R); provides aeromedical evacuation and VIP transport. |
Historical Evolution
Origins as Troop Carrier Command (1951-1958)
The Eighteenth Air Force (Troop Carrier) was established on 7 March 1951 and organized on 28 March 1951 at Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina, as a subordinate command under Tactical Air Command to centralize management of its expanding troop carrier operations.[27] This activation addressed the need for an intermediate headquarters to oversee airlift activities, including crew training and logistical support for ground force deployments, amid growing demands in the early Cold War era.[6] Initial command fell to Colonel Earl B. Young, transitioning to Major General Robert W. Douglass Jr. on 1 May 1951.[27] The unit became operational on 1 June 1951, assuming control of an initial three troop carrier wings equipped with aircraft such as the C-46, C-82, C-119, and C-124.[27] Redesignated simply as the Eighteenth Air Force on 26 June 1951, the command expanded its oversight to nine troop carrier wings by early 1953, incorporating activated reserve units and a range of aircraft including the C-47, C-54, C-122, C-130, and helicopters like the H-19 and H-21.[27] Its primary mission focused on training aircrews for tactical airlift, paratroop drops, and resupply missions, while providing personnel and logistical support for the Korean War effort.[6] Key operations included continental United States troop movements, construction support for the Defense Early Warning Line in allied northern territories from 1955 to 1957, and Antarctic missions under Operations Deep Freeze I and II, highlighted by the first airdrop to the South Pole on 13 October 1956 and a parachute assault there on 24 November 1956.[27] The command also pioneered aerial port operations and pathfinder techniques to enhance rapid deployment capabilities.[27] In July–August 1957, the Eighteenth Air Force relinquished its dedicated troop carrier role as part of broader Air Force realignments toward unified airlift management.[27] It relocated its headquarters to Waco, Texas, effective 1 September 1957, assuming responsibility for Tactical Air Command bases across south-central and western states under the Single Manager Airlift Service concept, and incorporating fighter and tanker assets such as KB-29s, KB-50s, F-84s, F-100s, and F-101s by October 1957.[6] Under Major General Chester E. McCarty from 22 November 1954, the command adapted to these shifts but faced obsolescence in its original structure.[27] The unit was inactivated effective 1 January 1958, with its personnel, equipment, and missions transferred to the Twelfth Air Force, which relocated on paper from Europe to absorb these assets and consolidate tactical operations.[1] This inactivation reflected evolving Air Force priorities toward integrated continental air defense and reduced emphasis on standalone troop carrier commands.[27]Inactivation and Cold War Legacy
The Eighteenth Air Force was inactivated on January 1, 1958, amid budgetary constraints and a broader realignment of U.S. Air Force airlift forces.[3] In the preceding year, key assets such as C-124 Globemaster II aircraft had been transferred to the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), reflecting a shift of strategic airlift responsibilities away from Tactical Air Command toward a unified transport command structure.[1] Upon inactivation, all personnel, equipment, and subordinate units were transferred in place to the reactivated Twelfth Air Force, which absorbed the Eighteenth's resources on paper after relocating its headquarters from Germany.[27][6] This inactivation marked the end of the Eighteenth Air Force's initial operational phase but preserved its foundational contributions to air mobility doctrine. During its seven years of active service from 1951 to 1958, the command achieved an unprecedented global combat airlift capability, integrating tactical troop carrier operations with strategic reach.[2] Notable efforts included deploying C-124s to Japan in spring 1952 for Korean War resupply missions and using C-119s in 1954 to airdrop supplies to French forces at Dien Bien Phu, Indochina, followed by evacuating wounded personnel to Japan.[1] These operations honed rapid deployment tactics, training regimens, and equipment standardization that influenced subsequent Air Force airlift practices.[6] The Cold War legacy of the Eighteenth Air Force endured through its integration into successor organizations, ensuring continuity in global air mobility amid escalating superpower tensions. Transferred assets and personnel bolstered MATS, established in 1957, which managed strategic airlift until redesignating as the Military Airlift Command (MAC) in 1966.[7] MAC expanded on the Eighteenth's innovations to support crises such as the Berlin Airlift aftermath logistics, Congo operations in the 1960s, and Vietnam War sustainment, operating fleets that grew to include C-141 Starlifters and C-5 Galaxies by the 1970s.[28] This evolution maintained the emphasis on rapid, intertheater transport—core to the Eighteenth's mission—culminating in MAC's role until its merger into Air Mobility Command in 1992, where airlift capabilities proved vital for deterrence and contingency response against Soviet expansion.[29] The command's early emphasis on scalable, worldwide projection thus underpinned Air Force readiness throughout the era, despite organizational changes.[30]Reactivation and Modern Era (2003-Present)
The Eighteenth Air Force was reactivated on 1 October 2003 at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, as the operational warfighting headquarters of Air Mobility Command, consolidating the airlift and air refueling functions previously managed by the 15th and 21st Air Forces to streamline command and control for global mobility operations.[31][1] This reorganization aimed to enhance rapid deployment and sustainment capabilities in response to post-9/11 operational demands, providing oversight for approximately 37 air wings, groups, and squadrons equipped with aircraft such as the C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker, and KC-10 Extender.[3][32] From its inception, the command directed air mobility support for major contingency operations, including the 2004 rotation of over 250,000 troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, leveraging airlift assets to transport personnel, equipment, and supplies across theaters.[33] It sustained Global War on Terror missions by executing air refueling for combat sorties, strategic airlift for troop movements, and aeromedical evacuations, while later incorporating retrograde operations such as the 2014 use of C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft to extract equipment from Afghanistan amid drawdown efforts.[34] These efforts integrated with joint and coalition forces, emphasizing contested environment readiness through exercises and technological upgrades, including the phased introduction of the KC-46 Pegasus tanker starting in the late 2010s.[1] In the 2020s, the Eighteenth Air Force adapted to shifting strategic priorities, supporting humanitarian responses and deterrence missions amid great power competition, while maintaining core global reach functions.[35] A significant structural change occurred in September 2025, when Air Mobility Command reactivated the Twenty-First Air Force on 5 September, realigning wings and units between the two numbered air forces to optimize operational alignment and force presentation.[1][5] This evolution preserved the command's focus on delivering combat-ready air mobility forces, with ongoing emphasis on integration of advanced platforms like the CV-22 Osprey for special operations support.[3]Key Operations and Engagements
Cold War Deployments and Exercises
The Eighteenth Air Force, activated on 28 March 1951 at Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina, under Tactical Air Command, assumed responsibility for organizing, administering, training, and equipping troop carrier units to support global mobility needs during the early Cold War. It controlled up to 16 troop carrier wings operating aircraft such as C-119, C-124, C-123, and C-130, augmenting Military Air Transport Service operations and rotating units to Europe for NATO reinforcement while providing trained crews and personnel for the Korean War, including C-124 deployments to Japan in spring 1952.[3][27][6] In support of French forces during the First Indochina War, Eighteenth Air Force C-119 Flying Boxcars deployed to Tourane Air Base in 1953, followed by airdrops of supplies to the besieged garrison at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and subsequent airlifts of wounded personnel to Japan, though many missions utilized civilian contract crews under Air Force oversight. These operations highlighted the command's role in extending U.S. logistical reach amid escalating Cold War proxy conflicts in Asia.[3][27] Arctic and Antarctic deployments underscored the command's contributions to strategic infrastructure and exploration. From 1955 to 1957, it airlifted heavy equipment for the Distant Early Warning radar line in northern Canada, enhancing North American defense against Soviet aerial threats. In Operations Deep Freeze I and II (1955–1957), units from the 63rd Troop Carrier Wing conducted the first airdrop over the South Pole on 13 October 1956 and the inaugural parachute assault there on 24 November 1956, supporting U.S. scientific and territorial claims in Antarctica. Additional efforts included helicopter support for the HIRAN geodetic survey project in January 1956 and airlift assistance to Alaskan and Northeast Air Command forces from March to June 1957.[3][27][6] Training exercises emphasized joint Army-Air Force interoperability, with Eighteenth Air Force units participating in airborne paratroop drops, medical evacuation drills, and tactical maneuvers to refine rapid deployment tactics. These activities developed innovations like the aerial port concept, pathfinder combat control teams, and C-123 Provider fixed-wing assault operations, while supporting U.S. Army unit movements and NATO readiness through rotational deployments and simulated combat scenarios.[27][6]Post-Cold War and Contingency Operations
Following its reactivation on 1 October 2003 as the operational component of Air Mobility Command, Eighteenth Air Force focused on rapidly deploying and sustaining airlift, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities for worldwide contingencies, integrating expeditionary task forces and contingency response units to support joint force commanders.[36] [6] In Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, Eighteenth Air Force directed thousands of sorties, delivering over 1 million passengers and 500,000 tons of cargo annually during peak global war on terror demands, while providing aerial refueling to extend the range of fighter, bomber, and reconnaissance aircraft.[35] Specific missions included C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from subordinate wings transporting M1A1 Abrams tanks to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, on 25 December 2010—the first U.S.-owned tank deployment in support of Enduring Freedom—facilitating enhanced ground maneuver capabilities against Taliban forces.[37] The command's Tanker Airlift Control Center coordinated the rotation of more than 170 helicopters (100 inbound and 70 outbound) to Operation Enduring Freedom theaters in 2011, ensuring timely sustainment amid surge requirements.[38] Eighteenth Air Force also supported post-invasion stabilization in Iraq, with airlift wings under its oversight executing precision airdrops, such as the 173rd Airborne Brigade's combat parachute assault in northern Iraq during initial phases of Iraqi Freedom, and ongoing resupply missions that accounted for a significant portion of theater logistics.[27] By 2013, adaptations in command structure had evolved to handle persistent high-tempo operations, including aeromedical evacuations of over 10,000 casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan combined, prioritizing rapid global reach over fixed Cold War basing models.[35] Beyond Middle East contingencies, Eighteenth Air Force enabled responses to natural disasters and regional crises, such as Operation United Assistance in 2014, where C-130 and C-17 aircraft delivered Ebola response equipment and personnel to West Africa, and humanitarian airlifts following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, underscoring its role in non-combatant evacuations and surge capacity for unified combatant commands.[3] These operations demonstrated the force's shift toward flexible, distributed mobility networks, with aircraft like the C-5 Galaxy sustaining long-duration missions, including prisoner transports and heavy equipment deliveries across multiple theaters.[39]Recent Developments and Global Response Missions
In September 2025, Air Mobility Command reactivated the Twenty-First Air Force, realigning certain units previously under Eighteenth Air Force control, including elements from the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, to enhance operational focus and efficiency in global mobility tasks.[12] This structural shift supported broader Department of the Air Force efforts to reoptimize for great power competition, with Eighteenth Air Force leaders emphasizing future-focused readiness through visits to host wings and integration of advanced training.[40] The command's 2025 strategy document outlined priorities for contested environments, including rapid reinforcement of diplomacy via presidential and senior leader airlift, alongside sustainment of joint forces in high-threat scenarios. Eighteenth Air Force played a central role in Operation Allies Refuge, the 2021 non-combatant evacuation from Afghanistan, coordinating over 500 Active, Reserve, and National Guard aircrews that flew continuous missions, facilitating the departure of more than 124,000 personnel amid the U.S. withdrawal.[41] This effort, the largest such operation in U.S. history, highlighted the command's capacity for surge air mobility under duress, with C-17 Globemasters and other assets enabling rapid processing at intermediate hubs like Ramstein Air Base.[42] Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Eighteenth Air Force has sustained high-priority security assistance missions, including aerial delivery of aid via units like the 305th Air Mobility Wing, contributing to one of the largest U.S. airdrop operations in support of Ukrainian forces.[43][44] These efforts, ongoing as of 2024, involved joint base operations such as those at Dover Air Force Base, where Airmen processed and transported munitions and humanitarian supplies to bolster Ukraine's defense.[45] In 2024, the command executed global response tasks beyond conflict zones, including airlift support to Haiti amid instability, integrating with broader Air Mobility Command missions for personnel and equipment movement.[14] Exercises like Department-Level Exercise 2025 and REFORPAC 2025 tested rapid deployment capabilities, with Eighteenth Air Force assets demonstrating contested mobility through multinational surges into the Pacific theater, underscoring readiness for deterrence and crisis response.[46][47]Lineage and Heraldry
Designations, Assignments, and Components
The Eighteenth Air Force traces its lineage to its establishment as Troop Carrier Command on 7 March 1951, with formal organization on 28 March 1951 at Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina.[27] It was redesignated as the Eighteenth Air Force on 26 June 1951 while assigned to Tactical Air Command, focusing on training and equipping troop carrier units for global augmentation.[27] The unit was inactivated on 1 January 1958 at Waco, Texas.[27] Reactivated on 1 October 2003 under Air Mobility Command and stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, it assumed responsibility for worldwide air mobility execution, including airlift, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation.[27] On 1 April 2007, it was redesignated Eighteenth Air Force (Air Forces Transportation), serving as the operational arm aligned with U.S. Transportation Command for rapid force projection.[27] Its primary components encompass the Tanker Airlift Control Center (TACC) at Scott AFB, which directs global mission tasking for Air Mobility Command assets excluding the 89th Airlift Wing; oversight of active-duty airlift and air refueling wings; contingency response wings; en route air mobility operations groups; and Expeditionary Mobility Task Forces (such as the 15th EMTF).[27] In September 2025, the reactivation of the Twenty-First Air Force realigned select units from the Eighteenth Air Force and the Air Force Expeditionary Center to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, to streamline command structures and enhance operational agility across Air Mobility Command.[11]Stations, Aircraft, and Honors
The headquarters of Eighteenth Air Force was established at Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina, on 28 March 1951, following its activation as a troop carrier command under Tactical Air Command.[27] It relocated to James Connally Air Force Base (later Waco), Texas, on 1 September 1957, where it operated until inactivation on 1 January 1958 amid broader Air Force reorganizations.[27] Upon reactivation on 19 October 2003 as the operational arm of Air Mobility Command, the headquarters was assigned to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, its current location, supporting global mobility missions from this central hub.[1] Eighteenth Air Force commands wings operating over 400 fixed-wing mobility aircraft, primarily focused on strategic and tactical airlift, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation.[3] Key types include the C-5M Super Galaxy for outsized cargo (operated by active and reserve units under its oversight), C-17 Globemaster III for rapid global deployment, C-130J Super Hercules for intratheater lift, KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-46A Pegasus for tanker support, and KC-10 Extender (in phase-out).[3][1] Specialized aircraft encompass executive transports like the C-32A, C-37A Gulfstream, C-40 Clipper, C-21 Guardian, and VC-25 Air Force One variants, enabling command-level mobility and operational support airlift.[3]| Period | Primary Aircraft Overseen |
|---|---|
| 1951–1958 (Troop Carrier era) | C-119 Flying Boxcar, C-123 Provider, C-130 Hercules |
| 2003–present (Mobility focus) | C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-46 Pegasus, and variants |
Leadership
Commanding Generals
The Eighteenth Air Force, upon its reactivation on October 1, 2003, as the sole numbered air force under Air Mobility Command, has been led by a series of two- and three-star generals responsible for overseeing global air mobility operations, including rapid deployment of forces, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation. Commanders have typically served two- to three-year tenures, with some interim periods reflecting transitions or acting roles.[1]| Commander | Rank | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Paul W. Essex | Maj. Gen. | Oct 2003 – Dec 2003 |
| William Welser III | Lt. Gen. | Dec 2003 – Nov 2005 |
| James A. Hawkins | Maj. Gen. | Nov 2005 – Jun 2008 |
| Winfield W. Scott III | Maj. Gen. | Jun 2008 – Aug 2009 |
| Robert R. Allardice | Lt. Gen. | Aug 2009 – Sep 2011 |
| Mark F. Ramsay | Lt. Gen. | Sep 2011 – Aug 2012 |
| Darren W. McDew | Lt. Gen. | Aug 2012 – Apr 2014 |
| Barbara J. Faulkenberry | Maj. Gen. | May 2014 – Jun 2014 |
| Carlton D. Everhart II | Lt. Gen. | Jun 2014 – Aug 2015 |
| Thomas J. Sharpy | Maj. Gen. | Aug 2015 – Oct 2015 |
| Samuel D. Cox | Lt. Gen. | Oct 2015 – Jun 2017 |
| Giovanni K. Tuck | Lt. Gen. | Jun 2017 – Jul 2018 |
| Sam C. Barrett | Maj. Gen. | Jul 2018 – Aug 2020 |
| Kenneth T. Bibb Jr. | Maj. Gen. | Aug 2020 – Aug 2022 |
| Corey J. Martin | Maj. Gen. | Aug 2022 – Aug 2024 |
| Charles D. Bolton | Maj. Gen. | Aug 2024 – present |
Notable Commanders and Their Tenures
The commanders of the Eighteenth Air Force since its reactivation on October 1, 2003, have overseen its evolution into Air Mobility Command's primary warfighting entity, responsible for global airlift, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation operations involving over 36,000 personnel and more than 1,100 aircraft.[3]| Commander | Rank | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Paul W. Essex | Maj. Gen. | October 2003 – December 2003[3] |
| William Welser III | Lt. Gen. | December 2003 – November 2005[3] |
| James A. Hawkins | Maj. Gen. | November 2005 – June 2008[3] |
| Winfield W. Scott III | Maj. Gen. | June 2008 – August 2009[3] |
| Robert R. Allardice | Lt. Gen. | August 2009 – September 2011[3] |
| Mark F. Ramsay | Lt. Gen. | September 2011 – August 2012[3] |
| Darren W. McDew | Lt. Gen. | August 2012 – April 2014[3] |
| Carlton D. Everhart II | Lt. Gen. | June 2014 – August 2015[3][49] |
| Samuel D. Cox | Lt. Gen. | October 2015 – June 2017[3] |
| Giovanni K. Tuck | Lt. Gen. | June 2017 – July 2018[3] |
| Sam C. Barrett | Maj. Gen. | July 2018 – July 2020[3] |
| Kenneth T. Bibb Jr. | Maj. Gen. | August 2020 – August 2022[3][50] |
| Corey J. Martin | Maj. Gen. | August 2022 – August 2024[3][48] |
| Charles D. Bolton | Maj. Gen. | August 2024 – present[48] |
Lt. Gen. William Welser III, the first three-star commander following the interim leadership of Maj. Gen. Essex, directed the force during its initial integration into Air Mobility Command's operational structure, emphasizing rapid deployment capabilities in support of global contingencies.[3] Several commanders advanced to four-star positions post-tenure, including Lt. Gen. Darren W. McDew, who later commanded U.S. Transportation Command, and Lt. Gen. Carlton D. Everhart II, who assumed command of Air Mobility Command itself.[51] These transitions reflect the command's role in developing senior leaders for broader joint and mobility operations.