Commander, Naval Air Forces


The Commander, Naval Air Forces is the aviation type commander for all United States Navy naval aviation units. Type commanders are in administrative control, and in some cases operational control of certain types of assets 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. 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, also known as the "Air Boss," is the senior Navy leader of the Naval Aviation Enterprise 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. CNAF is supported by Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ; Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve ; the Chief of Naval Air Training ; and the Commander, Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center.
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. 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, 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 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 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, effective September 1, 1942. Vice Admiral John Henry Towers became its commander soon afterwards.
In May 1949, the headquarters was moved from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to Naval Air Station, North Island, California.
In October 2001, the Chief of Naval Operations redesignated Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet 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. The Chief of Naval Air Training and the Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve were also subsequently placed under the aegis of COMNAVAIRFOR.

Past commanders

  1. Vice Admiral John B. Nathman
  2. Vice Admiral Michael D. Malone
  3. Vice Admiral James M. "Jim" Zortman
  4. Vice Admiral Thomas J. "Tom" Kilcline Jr.
  5. Vice Admiral Allen G. "Al" Myers IV
  6. Vice Admiral David H. Buss
  7. Vice Admiral Troy M. "Mike" Shoemaker
  8. Vice Admiral DeWolfe Miller III
  9. Vice Admiral Kenneth R. Whitesell
  10. Vice Admiral Daniel Cheever

    Subordinate commands

Commander, Fleet Air, Western Pacific (COMFAIRWESTPAC)

Commander, Patrol And Reconnaissance Group, Pacific

Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing TEN">Patrol Wing">Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing TEN

  • VP-1 Screaming Eagles
  • VP-4 Skinny Dragons
  • VP-9 Golden Eagles
  • VP-40 Fighting Marlins
  • VP-46 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">List of United States Navy aircraft wings#Currently Active Type and Functional Wings">Commander, Airborne Command, Control, Logistics Wing (COMACCLOGWING)

UnitNicknameAircraftHome baseNotes
VAW-113Black EaglesE-2 HawkeyeNaval Base Ventura County
VAW-115Liberty BellsE-2 HawkeyeNaval Base Ventura County
VAW-116Sun KingsE-2 HawkeyeNaval Base Ventura County
VAW-117WallbangersE-2 HawkeyeNaval Base Ventura County
VAW-120GreyhawksE-2 Hawkeye
C-2 Greyhound		Naval Station Norfolk Chambers FieldFRS
VAW-121BluetailsE-2 HawkeyeNaval Station Norfolk Chambers Field
VAW-123ScrewtopsE-2 HawkeyeNaval Station Norfolk Chambers Field
VAW-124Bear AcesE-2 HawkeyeNaval Station Norfolk Chambers Field
VAW-125TigertailsE-2 HawkeyeMarine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
VAW-126SeahawksE-2 HawkeyeNaval Station Norfolk Chambers Field
VRC-30ProvidersC-2 GreyhoundNaval Air Station North Island
VRC-40RawhidesC-2 GreyhoundNaval Station Norfolk Chambers Field
Carrier Airborne Early
Warning Weapons School

Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific">List of United States Navy aircraft wings#Currently Active Type and Functional Wings">Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)

UnitNicknameAircraftHome baseNotes
VFA-2Bounty Hunters
VFA-14Top Hatters
VFA-22Fighting Redcocks
VFA-25Fist of the Fleet
VFA-27Royal Maces
VFA-41Black Aces
VFA-86Sidewinders
VFA-94Mighty Shrikes
VFA-102Diamondbacks
VFA-113Stingers
VFA-115Eagles
VFA-122Flying Eagles
VFA-136Knighthawks
VFA-137Kestrels
VFA-146Blue Diamonds
VFA-151Fighting Vigilantes
VFA-154Black Knights
VFA-192Golden Dragons
VFA-195Dambusters
Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific

Commander, [Joint Strike Fighter Wing">List of United States Navy aircraft wings#Currently Active Type and Functional Wings"> Commander, [Joint Strike Fighter Wing] (COMJSFWING)

  • VFA-97 Warhawks
  • VFA-125 Rough Raiders
  • VFA-147 Argonauts

    Commander, Electronic Attack Wing, Pacific">List of United States Navy aircraft wings#Currently Active Type and Functional Wings"> Commander, Electronic Attack Wing, Pacific (COMVAQWINGPAC)

  • VAQ-129 Vikings
  • VAQ-130 Zappers
  • VAQ-131 Lancers
  • VAQ-132 Scorpions
  • VAQ-133 Wizards
  • VAQ-134 Garudas
  • VAQ-135 Black Ravens
  • VAQ-136 Gauntlets
  • VAQ-137 Rooks
  • VAQ-138 Yellowjackets
  • VAQ-139 Cougars
  • VAQ-140 Patriots
  • VAQ-141 Shadowhawks
  • VAQ-142 Gray Wolves
  • VAQ-144 Main Battery
  • Electronic Attack Weapons School