Neha Patil (Editor)

United States Department of the Air Force

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Preceding agency
  
Department of War

Founded
  
18 September 1947

Founder
  
Harry S. Truman

United States Department of the Air Force png1vectormefilesimages5959380department

Formed
  
September 18, 1947; 69 years ago (1947-09-18)

Jurisdiction
  
United States Air Force

Employees
  
330,159 Regular Air Force 151,360 Civilians 68,872 Air Force Reserve 94,753 Air National Guard

Annual budget
  
$170.6 billion (2010 Budget Request)

Agency executive
  
Lisa Disbrow, Acting Secretary of the Air Force

Headquarters
  
Washington, D.C., United States

Parent agency
  
United States Department of Defense

Predecessor
  
United States Department of War

Similar
  
United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, United States Departme, Air National Guard, United States Navy

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is one of the three Military Departments within the 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 and it includes all elements and units of the United States Air Force (USAF).

Contents

The Department of the Air Force is headed by the Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/OS), a civilian, who has the authority to conduct all of its affairs, subject to the authority, direction and control of the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of the Air Force's principal deputy is the Under Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/US). Their senior staff assistants in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force are four Assistant Secretaries for Acquisition, Financial Management & Comptroller, Installations, Environment & Logistics, Manpower & Reserve Affairs and a General Counsel. The highest-ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force who is the senior uniformed adviser to the Secretary, represents the Air Force on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, heads the Air Staff and is assisted in the latter capacity by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

By direction of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force assigns Air Force units - apart from those units performing duties enumerated in 10 U.S.C. ยง 8013 unless otherwise directed - to the Commanders of the Combatant Commands. Only the Secretary of Defense (and the President) has the authority to approve transfer of forces between Combatant Commands.

Organizational structure

See Structure of the United States armed forces

Direct Reporting Units

The Air Force has a very limited number of Direct Reporting Units:

Field Operating Agencies

Field Operating Agencies (FOA) perform field activities beyond the scope of any of the Major Commands. Their activities are specialized or associated with an Air Force wide mission, and their heads report directly to a functional manager in either the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force or the Air Staff.

History

The department has suffered many problems in aircraft acquisition over the years.

  • 2003: Darleen Druyun rigged plan to lease Boeing tankers.
  • 2011: Department sends KC-X evaluations to wrong companies.
  • 2012: Error in paperwork requires Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance to be rebid.
  • References

    United States Department of the Air Force Wikipedia


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