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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 in
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. 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 (COMNAVAIRES); the Chief of Naval Air Training (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 (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, Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, 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 Force, 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 Reci ...
, Hawaii to Naval Air Station, North Island, 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 (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 (January 11, 2018 – October 2, 2020) # Vice Admiral Kenneth R. Whitesell (October 2, 2020 – September 7, 2023) # Vice Admiral Daniel Cheever (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 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 Skinny Dragons * VP-9 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 Golden Swordsmen









Carrier Air Wing Two


Carrier Air Wing Five


Carrier Air Wing Nine


Carrier Air Wing Eleven


Carrier Air Wing Fourteen


Carrier Air Wing Seventeen


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


Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)


Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING)

* VFA-97 Warhawks * VFA-125 Rough Raiders ( FRS) * VFA-147 Argonauts


Commander, Electronic Attack Wing, Pacific (COMVAQWINGPAC)

* VAQ-129 Vikings ( FRS) * VAQ-130 Zappers * VAQ-131 Lancers * VAQ-132 Scorpions (Expeditionary) * VAQ-133 Wizards * VAQ-134 Garudas (Expeditionary) * VAQ-135 Black Ravens (Expeditionary) * VAQ-136 Gauntlets * VAQ-137 Rooks * VAQ-138 Yellowjackets (Expeditionary) * VAQ-139 Cougars * VAQ-140 Patriots * VAQ-141 Shadowhawks ( MCAS Iwakuni, 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 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, Japan) * HSM-71 Raptors * HSM-73 Battle Cats * HSM-75 Wolfpack * HSM-77 Saberhawks ( NAF Atsugi, 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 Black Knights * HSC-6 Indians * HSC-8 Eightballers * HSC-12 Golden Falcon ( NAF Atsugi, Japan) * HSC-14 Chargers * HSC-21 Blackjacks (Expeditionary) * HSC-23 Wildcards (Expeditionary) * HSC-25 Island Knights (Expeditionary) ( Andersen AFB, 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, Oklahoma)

* VQ-3 Ironman * VQ-4 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 Tigers


Commander, Training Air Wing Two (TRAWING TWO)

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


Commander, Training Air Wing Four (TRAWING FOUR)

* VT-27 Boomers * VT-28 Rangers *VT-31 Wise Owls *VT-35 Stingrays


Commander, Training Air Wing Five (TRAWING FIVE)

*VT-2 Doerbirds *VT-3 Red Knights *VT-6 Shooters * HT-8 Eightballers * HT-18 Vigilant Eagles * HT-28 Hellions


Commander, Training Air Wing Six (TRAWING SIX)

* VT-4 Warbucks * VT-10 Wildcats * VT-86 Sabrehawks


See also

*
Naval aviation Naval aviation / Aeronaval is the application of Military aviation, military air power by Navy, navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases. It often involves ''navalised aircraft'', specifically designed for naval use. Seab ...
*
Modern US Navy carrier air operations Modern United States Navy aircraft carrier air operations include the operation of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft on and around an aircraft carrier for performance of combat or noncombat missions. The flight operations are highly evolved, based ...
*
List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962) This list of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962) includes prototype, pre-production and operational type designations under the 1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system, which was used by the United States Navy, the Un ...
* List of US Naval aircraft *
United States Naval Aviator A naval aviator is a commissioned officer or warrant officer qualified as a crewed aircraft pilot in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps. United States Coast Guard crewed aircraft pilots are officially designated as "Coast Guard ...
* Naval flight officer * List of United States Navy aircraft wings * Carrier air wing * List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons * Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet


References


External links

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