Air Intelligence Agency and Air Combat Command to merge
Move becomes effective in early 2001
Air Force officials announced today that plans are under way to functionally realign Headquarters Air Intelligence Agency (AIA), Kelly Air Force Base, TX under Air Combat Command (ACC), Langley AFB, VA.
Effective February 1, 2001, AIA will change from an Air Force field-operating agency to an ACC primary subordinate unit. This realignment, recognizing the growing role of information operations as a warfighting weapon, has a primary objective of enhancing information operations in direct support of the Joint Force commander.
Under the new arrangement, the National Air Intelligence Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH and the Air Force Information Warfare Center at Kelly AFB will continue to report to the AIA commander. Existing administrative support relationships between AIA and the Air Force Technical Applications Center will remain as well.
Two wings to realign
The agency's two wings, the 67th Information Operations Wing, Kelly Air Force Base, and the 70th Intelligence Wing, Fort Meade, MD, will realign under 8th Air Force, headquartered at Barksdale AFB, LA. Senior Air Force leaders have identified 8th Air Force as the single force presenter for IO products and services. This move brings information operations capabilities into a structure similar to those of other Air Force weapons systems provided to commanders.
The announced realignment "doesn't require the relocation of any units and I expect any changes to manning levels to be minimal," said Maj. Gen. Bruce Wright, AIA commander.
The AIA's mission is to provide full-spectrum information operations products, applications, services and resources to Air Force major commands, Air Force components and national decision-makers.
Edited by Bob Arguero, Managing Editor, GovCon