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{{short description|Military department for the Air Force and Space Force, U.S. Department of Defense}}
{{For|the air service branch|United States Air Force}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name     = United States Department of the Air Force
| seal            = File:Seal of the United States Department of the Air Force.svg
| seal_width      = 155px
| seal_caption    = Seal of the U.S. Department of the Air Force
| formed          = {{start date and age|1947|09|18}}
| preceding1      = [[United States Department of War|Department of War]]
| jurisdiction    = 
| headquarters    = {{nowrap|[[The Pentagon]], [[Arlington County, Virginia|Arlington County]], [[Virginia]], U.S.}}
| employees       = 330,159 ''Regular Air Force''<br />151,360 ''Civilians''<br />68,872 ''Air Force Reserve''<br />94,753 ''Air National Guard''
| budget          = $222.3B (FY2022)
| image           = 
| chief1_name     = [[Frank Kendall III]]
| chief1_position = [[United States Secretary of the Air Force|Secretary]]
| chief2_name     = [[Melissa Dalton]]
| chief2_position = [[United States Under Secretary of the Air Force|Under Secretary]]
| parent_agency   = [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]]
| child1_agency   = {{Air force|United States|size=23px}}
| child2_agency   = {{Space force|United States|size=23px}}
| website         =
}}

The '''United States Department of the Air Force''' ('''DAF''') is one of the three military departments within the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense of the United States of America]]. 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 [[United States Secretary of the Air Force|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 [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]]. The Secretary of the Air Force's principal deputy is the [[United States Under Secretary of the Air Force|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 Secretary of the Air Force|Assistant Secretaries]] for [[Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics)|Acquisition, Technology & Logistics]], [[Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management & Comptroller)|Financial Management & Comptroller]], [[Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Installations, Environment & Energy)|Installations, Environment & Energy]], [[Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs)|Manpower & Reserve Affairs]], [[Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration|Space Acquisition & Integration]] and a [[General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force|General Counsel]]. The highest-ranking military officers in the department, and senior military advisers to the secretary, are the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|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 {{UnitedStatesCode|10|9013}} unless otherwise directed – to the [[Unified combatant command|combatant commands]]. Only the Secretary of Defense and the President have the authority to approve a transfer of forces between combatant commands.<ref>{{UnitedStatesCode|10|162}}</ref>

==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 [[Air Force Space Command|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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6Y4fAAAAMAAJ|title = Hearing on H.R. 5130 Aerospace Force Act Before the Investigations Subcommitee of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Ninety-seventh Congress, Second Session, May 19, 1982|year = 1983}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Agrawal |first1=Raj |last2=Brooks |first2=Aaron |title=One Team, One Fight The Department of the Air and Space Forces |url=https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/ASOR/Journals/Volume-1_Issue-1/Agrawal_Brooks_One_Team_One_Fight.pdf |publisher=Air&Space Operations Review |date=Spring 2022}}</ref>

===As the Department of the Air and Space Forces===
[[File:Seal of the United States Space Force.svg|thumb|Seal of the U.S. Space Force, which is organized within the Department of the Air Force.]]
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 [[United States Department of the Navy|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/space-force-proposal-could-create-a-broader-military-department-for-both-air-and-space/|title = Space Force proposal could create a broader military department for both air and space|date = 30 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afa.org/publications-news/news/2019-12-23/fighting-and-winning-in-space-with-our-new-u-s--space-force|title = Fighting and Winning in Space with Our New U.S. Space Force &#124; Air Force Association}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.afa.org/news/afa-rebrands-become-air-space-forces-association | title=AFA Rebrands to Become the Air & Space Forces Association &#124; Air & Space Forces Association }}</ref> In a 2021 article in the [[Space Force Association|Space Force Journal]], two Space Force officers also proposed a name change for the department.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-space/2021/07/23/the-faas-top-space-official-outlines-progress-493703|title = The FAA's top space official outlines progress|work = [[Politico]] |first1=Bryan |last1=Bender |date=2021-07-23}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2021/12/29/congress-turns-down-a-space-national-guard-again-but-space-force-isnt-giving-up/|title=Congress turns down a Space National Guard again, but Space Force isn't giving up|date=29 December 2021|first1=Rachel S. |last1=Cohen |work=[[Air Force Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.airforcemag.com/house-senate-approve-defense-authorization-bills/|title = House, Senate Approve Defense Authorization Bills|date = 23 July 2020 |first1=Rachel S. |last1=Cohen |magazine=Air & Space Forces Magazine}}</ref>

==Organizational structure==

The Department of the Air Force is divided into the [[United States Secretary of the Air Force#Office of the Secretary of the Air Force|Office of the Secretary of the Air Force]], which is led by the [[United States Secretary of the Air Force]], the [[Air Staff (United States)|Air Staff]] which is led by the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Chief of Staff of the Air Force]], and the [[Space Staff]] which is led by the [[Chief of Space Operations]].<ref>[http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Air-Force-Senior-Leaders "Air Force Senior Leaders". Retrieved on 14 December 2017]</ref>

The Department of the Air Force consists of the [[United States Air Force]] and [[United States Space Force]].

===Headquarters Department of the Air Force===
{{United States Armed Forces sidebar}}

====Secretariat====
[[File:Office of the Secretary of the Air Force seal.jpg|20px]] '''[[United States Secretary of the Air Force#Office of the Secretary of the Air Force|Office of the Secretary of the Air Force]]'''
* '''SAF/OS – [[United States Secretary of the Air Force|Secretary of the Air Force]]'''
 SAF/US – [[United States Under Secretary of the Air Force|Under Secretary of the Air Force]]
* SAF/IA – DUSAF for International Affairs
* SAF/MG – DUSAF for Management
 SAF/AQ – [[Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics)|ASAF for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics]]
 SAF/FM – [[Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management & Comptroller)|ASAF for Financial Management & Comptroller]]
 SAF/IE – [[Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Installations, Environment & Energy)|ASAF for Installations, Environment & Energy]]
 SAF/MR – [[Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower & Reserve Affairs)|ASAF for Manpower & Reserve Affairs]]
 SAF/SA – [[Director for Air Force Studies and Analysis]]
 SAF/SQ – [[Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration|ASAF for Space Acquisition and Integration]]
 SAF/AA – [[Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force|Administrative Assistant to 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{{Clear}}

====Service staffs====
{| style="width:100%;" 
|- 
|  style="vertical-align:top; width:25%;"|
[[File:Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png|20px]] '''[[Air Staff (United States)|Air Staff]]'''
* '''AF/CC – [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Chief of Staff of the Air Force]]'''
 AF/CV – [[Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force]]
 CMSAF – [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force]]
 AF/DS – [[Director of Staff of the United States Air Force|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 – [[Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the United States Air Force|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 of the United States Air Force|Chief of Chaplains]]
 AF/HO – Air Force Historian
 AF/JA – [[United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps|Judge Advocate General of the Air Force]]
 AF/SE – [[Chief of Safety of the United States Air Force|Chief of Safety of the Air Force]]
 AF/SG – [[Surgeon General of the United States Air Force|Surgeon General of the Air Force]]
 AF/ST – [[Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force|Chief Scientist of the Air Force]]
 AF/TE – Director of Test and Evaluation
 NGB/CF – [[Air National Guard#List of Air National Guard Leaders|Director]] of [[Air National Guard]]
|  style="vertical-align:top; width:45%;"|
[[File:Space Staff Identification Badge.png|20px]] '''[[Space Staff]]'''
* '''[[Chief of Space Operations]]'''
 [[Vice Chief of Space Operations]]
 [[Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force]]
 [[Director of Staff of the United States Space Force|Director of Staff]]
 {{abbr|DCSO|Deputy Chief of Space Operations}} for Personnel and Logistics
 DCSO for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear
 DCSO for Strategy, Plans, Programs, Requirements and Analysis
|}

===Service branches===
* [[Structure of the United States Air Force]]
* [[Structure of the United States Space Force]]

== Budget ==
The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] claims the 2019 Department of the Air Force budget is as follows:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/fy2019/FY2019_Budget_Request_Overview_Book.pdf|title=FY2019_Budget_Request_Overview_Book.pdf|access-date=2018-10-29}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Department of the Air Force
!Air Force Base + OCO + Emergency
!FY 2018
!FY 2019 Request
!Delta 
FY19 - FY18
|-
|Military Personnel
|35,607,366
|38,954,308
| +3,346,942
|-
|Operation and Maintenance
|58,191,005
|61,407,391
| +3,216,386
|-
|Procurement
|45,654,160
|50,541,275
| +4,887,115
|-
|RDT&E 
|28,198,426
|40,492,614
| +12,294,188
|-
|Military Construction
|2,191,451
|2,303,699
| +112,248
|-
|Family Housing
|333,500
|395,720
| +62,220
|-
|Revolving and Management Funds
|63,533
|77,644
| +14,111
|-
|'''Total''' 
|'''170,239,441'''
|'''194,172,651'''
|'''+23,933,210'''
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>$ in thousands

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==
{{Reflist|2}}

== Bibliography ==
* [http://www.airmanonline.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100302-029.pdf "Airman Magazine: The Book 2010 – Personnel Facts and Figures". ''Airman Magazine'', Volume 54 Number 3]

==External links==

*[https://www.af.mil/ Official website of the Air Force]
*[https://www.spaceforce.mil/ Official website of the Space Force]
*[https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/air-force-department Department of the Air Force] in the [[Federal Register]]
*[https://www.usaspending.gov/agency/department-of-defense Department of Defense] on [[USAspending.gov]]

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[[Category:1947 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Former United States Executive Departments|Air Force]]
[[Category:United States Air Force]]
[[Category:United States Space Force]]
[[Category:United States Department of Defense]]