Commander, Naval Air Forces


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 material 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 DeWolfe Miller III. The staff is made up of approximately 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 (NAE)

Commander, Naval Air Forces, also known as the "Air Boss," is the senior command in 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, U.S. 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 is composed of three organizations with CNAF as the senior command. The other two commands/organizations composing the NAE are the Commander, Naval Air Systems Command, and the Director of Air Warfare in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, also known as OPNAV N98. Within the NAE there are approximately 3800 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 Forces, 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.
On 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 Mike Shoemaker
  8. Vice Admiral DeWolfe Miller III

    Subordinate Commands

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

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-97Warhawks
VFA-102Diamondbacks
VFA-113Stingers
VFA-115Eagles
VFA-122Flying Eagles
VFA-125Rough Raiders
VFA-136Knighthawks
VFA-137Kestrels
VFA-146Blue Diamonds
VFA-147Argonauts
VFA-151Fighting Vigilantes
VFA-154Black Knights
VFA-192Golden Dragons
VFA-195Dambusters
Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific