View source for Twenty-Fifth Air Force

{{short description|Numbered air force of the United States Air Force responsible for intelligence forces}}
{{distinguish|25th Air Division}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Twenty-Fifth Air Force
|image=25th Air Force Shield.jpg
|caption=Shield of the Twenty-Fifth Air Force
|dates=29 September 2014 – 11 October 2019 (as Twenty-Fifth Air Force)<br />8 June 2007 – 29 September 2014 (as Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency)<br />1 October 1993 – 8 June 2007 (as Air Intelligence Agency)<br /> 1 October 1991 – 1 October 1993 (as Air Force Intelligence Command)<br />1 August 1979 – 1 October 1991 (as Electronic Security Command)<br />20 October 1948 – 1 August 1979 (as United States Air Force Security Service)<br />({{Age in years and months|1948|10|20}})<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/862154/twenty-fifth-air-force-acc/|title=Twenty-Fifth Air Force (ACC)|website=Air Force Historical Research Agency}}</ref>
|country={{flag|United States of America|23px}}
|branch={{air force|USA}}
|type=[[Numbered Air Force]]
|role=Provide [[Air Combat Command]] and the Air Force with accurate and timely [[military intelligence|Intelligence]], [[Surveillance]], and [[Reconnaissance]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.25af.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/662963/twenty-fifth-air-force/|title=Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber)|website=www.25af.af.mil}}</ref>
|size=
|command_structure=[[File:ACC Shield.svg|23px]] [[Air Combat Command]]
| notable_commanders =Major General Timothy D. Haugh (Final Commander)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c4isrnet.com/information-warfare/2019/09/03/air-force-intel-and-cyber-organization-gets-new-commander/|title=Air Force intel and cyber organization gets new commander|first=Mark|last=Pomerleau|date=3 September 2019|website=C4ISRNET}}</ref>
|garrison=[[Lackland Air Force Base]], [[Joint Base San Antonio]], Texas, U.S.
|garrison_label=Headquarters
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=Freedom Through Vigilance
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|decorations=[[File:AFOEA Streamer.jpg|200px]]<br />[[Air Force Organizational Excellence Award]]<ref name="auto"/>
|anniversaries=
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label=
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}}
'''Twenty-Fifth Air Force''' ('''25 AF'''), was a [[Numbered Air Force|numbered air force]] (NAF) within the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF), and served as the Air Force's premier [[military intelligence]] organization. 25 AF was established on 29 September 2014<ref name="AFMNov14">McCullough, Amy, "ISR Agency Becomes 25th Air Force", ''Air Force Magazine: Journal of the Air Force Association'', November 2014, Volume 97 No. 11, p. 22</ref> by redesignating the [[Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency]] (a [[Field Operating Agency|field operating agency]]) under Headquarters, United States Air Force, to a numbered air force aligned under [[Air Combat Command]]. The USAF also realigned the [[9th Reconnaissance Wing]] and the [[55th Wing]] under the new NAF. It was headquartered at [[Lackland Air Force Base]], Texas.
Its primary mission was to provide [[intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance]] (ISR) products, applications, capabilities and resources, to include cyber and geospatial forces and expertise. Additionally, it is the service cryptologic component (SCC) responsible to the [[National Security Agency]] and [[Central Security Service]] for Air Force [[cryptographic]] activities.<ref name="25af_factsheet">{{cite web |url=http://www.25af.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=21937 |title=Factsheets: Twenty-Fifth Air Force |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=12 November 2014 |access-date=28 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222171613/http://www.25af.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=21937 |archive-date=22 December 2015 }}</ref>
25th AF was originally activated as the [[United States Air Force Security Service]] on 20 October 1948, at [[Arlington Hall]], [[Washington, D.C.]], with a mission of [[cryptology]] and [[communications security]].<ref name="legacy">{{Citation |last=Myers |first=Harold |last2=Marshall |first2=Gabriel |year=2009 |title=USAFSS to AF ISR Agency, 1948–2009: A Brief History of the AF ISR Agency and its Predecessor Organizations |publisher=AF ISR Agency History Office |edition=5th |publication-place=[[San Antonio]], Texas |url=http://www.afisr.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-091130-022.pdf |access-date=20 July 2014}}</ref>
25th AF was last commanded by [[Major General]] Timothy D. Haugh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/1286007/brigadier-general-timothy-d-haugh/|title=LIEUTENANT GENERAL TIMOTHY D. HAUGH > U.S. Air Force > Biography Display|website=www.af.mil}}</ref>
On 11 October 2019, the 25th AF and the [[Twenty-Fourth Air Force|24th AF]] inactivated, and subsequently transferred their missions to the newly activated [[Sixteenth Air Force|16th Air Force]].
==Overview==
The organization organizes, trains, equips and presents assigned forces and capabilities to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for combatant commanders and the nation. It also implements and oversees the execution of Air Force policies intended to expand ISR capabilities.
The organization comprises over 30,000 people at about 65 locations worldwide.
On 14 July 2014, the [[United States Secretary of the Air Force|Secretary]] and [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Chief of Staff]] of the Air Force announced that the Air Force ISR Agency would be reorganized into the '''Twenty-Fifth Air Force''', a [[numbered air force]] assigned to [[Air Combat Command]], on 1 October 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chavana |first=Jarrod|title=AF ISR Agency realigns as 25th AF|publisher=Air Force ISR Agency Public Affairs|date=14 July 2014|url=http://www.afisr.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123417646 |access-date=16 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Everstine|first=Brian |title=Air Force to cut thousands of installation support jobs, create new command for surveillance|newspaper=[[Air Force Times]]|date=14 July 2014|url=http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20140714/NEWS/307140037/Air-Force-cut-thousands-installation-support-jobs-create-new-command-surveillance |access-date=16 July 2014}}</ref> The redesignation took place on 29 September 2014 at [[Joint Base San Antonio]].
==Units==
===Assigned units===
Five active duty wings and one center are assigned to the Twenty-Fifth Air Force.
====Wings====
* [[9th Reconnaissance Wing]], [[Beale Air Force Base]], California
* [[55th Wing]], [[Offutt Air Force Base]], Nebraska
* [[70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing]], [[Fort George G. Meade]], Maryland
* [[363d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing]], [[Langley Field]], Virginia<ref name="363d_factsheet">{{cite web |url=http://www.25af.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-150316-015.pdf |title=Factsheets: 363rd ISR Wing |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=March 2015 |access-date=28 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402121828/http://www.25af.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-150316-015.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2015 }}</ref>
* [[480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing]], [[Langley Field]], Virginia
====Centers====
* [[Air Force Technical Applications Center]], [[Patrick Air Force Base]], Florida
===Supported units===
25 AF is responsible for mission management and support of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance operations.<ref name="25af_factsheet" />
===Air National Guard units===
* [[102d Intelligence Wing]], [[Otis Air National Guard Base]], Massachusetts
* [[181st Intelligence Wing]], [[Terre Haute Air National Guard Base]], Indiana
* [[184th Intelligence Wing]], [[McConnell Air Force Base]], Kansas
==History==
{{one source|section|date=July 2014}}
===United States Air Force Security Service===
Air Force Intelligence was first established as the '''United States Air Force Security Service''' (USAFSS) on 20 October 1948.<ref name="legacy" /> The service was headquartered at [[Arlington Hall]], a former girls school and the headquarters of the United States Army's [[Signals Intelligence Service]] (SIS) cryptography effort during [[World War II]]. The USAFSS was tasked with the [[cryptology]] and [[communications security]] missions of the newly formed [[United States Air Force]]. The USAFSS moved to [[Brooks Air Force Base]], in [[San Antonio]], Texas, in April 1949, and then to "Security Hill" at nearby [[Kelly Air Force Base]] in August 1953.
During the [[Korean War]], the USAFSS personnel provided [[United Nations Command]] units with intelligence on the movements of major [[Korean People's Army]] forces from [[Manchuria]] to [[Wonsan]]. USAFSS personnel received [[Korean Language]] training at [[Yale University]], and flew on the [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]] to relay communications to allied ground forces on the [[Korean Peninsula]].
During the early days of the [[Cold War]], USAFSS crews flew missions on several aircraft converted for intelligence missions, including the [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]], the [[Lockheed MC-130|Lockheed C-130A-II Dreamboat]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.7406suppron.com/history/c130aii.asp |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 February 2015 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307112407/http://7406suppron.com/history/c130aii.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the [[Strategic Air Command]]'s [[Boeing RB-50 Superfortress]] and [[Boeing RC-135]]. The USAFSS established communications stations in Germany, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Scotland, and later installed [[AN/FLR-9]] "Elephant Cage" radar sites in Alaska, England, Italy, Japan, the Philippines, and Turkey.
The USAFSS became involved in the [[Vietnam War]] when the [[Pacific Air Forces]] asked it to establish an Air Force Special Security Office at [[Tan Son Nhut Airport]] near [[Saigon]] in 1961. By the following year, a USAFSS squadron and three subordinate detachments were operating in Vietnam and Thailand, and USAFSS personnel supported [[Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star#College Eye|College Eye]] threat warning operations. USAFSS crews also flew on [[Douglas EC-47 Skytrain]] missions to search for aircrew shot down in North Vietnam; RC-130BII Hercules Airborne Communications Reconnaissance Program (ACRP) [[SIGINT]] platforms launched out of Thailand and Da Nang Air Base, Viet Nam; and, commencing in 1967, SAC RC-135s deployed to and operating out of [[Kadena Air Base]], Okinawa.
===Electronic Security Command===
On 1 August 1979, the Air Force redesignated the USAFSS as the '''Electronic Security Command''' (ESC), reflecting the organization's additional mission of improving the Air Force's use of [[electronic warfare]] technology in combat. In 1985, the Air Force tasked ESC with computer security, in addition to its intelligence and electronic warfare missions.
ESC provided intelligence support to the [[United States invasion of Panama]] in 1989 and were among the first U.S. military personnel to arrive in [[Saudi Arabia]] for the [[Gulf War]]. During that conflict, ESC personnel operated at three different locations in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
===Air Force Intelligence Command===
On 1 October 1991, the Air Force redesignated ESC as the '''Air Force Intelligence Command''' (AFIC) and consolidated Air Force intelligence functions and resources into a single command. AFIC merged ESC with the Air Force Foreign Technology Center at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]], Ohio, the Air Special Activities Center at [[Fort Belvoir]], Virginia, and elements of the Air Force Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C. With the combined missions, AFIC was tasked with intelligence, security, electronic combat, foreign technology, and treaty monitoring.
===Air Intelligence Agency===
The organization was redesignated again when it became the '''Air Intelligence Agency''' on 1 October 1993. During the 1990s, AIA personnel deployed to support [[NATO]] operations during the [[Bosnian War]] and [[Kosovo War]], and as part of Operations [[Operation Southern Watch|Southern Watch]] and [[Operation Northern Watch|Northern Watch]] in Southwest Asia.
In February 2001, the Air Force assigned AIA to [[Air Combat Command]], where it provided support to combat operations in the [[War on Terror]], the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]], and the [[Iraq War]].
===Air Force ISR Agency===
In August 2006, General [[T. Michael Moseley]], the [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force]], directed that the Air Force intelligence efforts stress intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. AIA was eventually redesignated the '''Air Force ISR Agency''' (AFISRA) on 8 June 2007. The organization change included transforming AFISRA into a field operating agency and reassigning it from Air Combat Command to Headquarters Air Force. With the change, AFISRA reported to the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.
Beginning in 2009, AFISRA personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan to support [[Beechcraft C-12 Huron#King Air 350-based variants|MC-12W]] as part of Project Liberty.
===Lineage===
* Established as '''[[United States Air Force Security Service]]''' on 20 October 1948
: Organized as a major command on 26 October 1948
: Redesignated: '''Electronic Security Command''' on 1 August 1979
: Redesignated: '''Air Force Intelligence Command''' on 1 October 1991
: Redesignated: '''Air Intelligence Agency''' on 1 October 1993
: Redesignated: '''Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency''' on 8 June 2007
: Redesignated: '''Twenty-Fifth Air Force''' on 1 October 2014
* Inactivated on 11 October 2019
===Assignments===
* United States Air Force, 26 October 1948
* [[Air Combat Command]], 1 February 2001
* United States Air Force, 8 June 2007
* Air Combat Command, 1 October 2014
===Components===
====Wings====
* 6900th Security Wing, [[Landsberg-Lech Air Base|Landsberg AB]], Germany, 1 August 1954 – Unknown<ref>[http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/001/105/375.xml Abstract, Oral History Interview with Lt. Gen. Richard P. Klocko]. Retrieved 28 August 2012</ref>
* 6910th Electronic Security Wing, [[Lindsey AS]], Germany, 1 July 1981 – 15 July 1988<ref name=Fletcher>{{cite book|last=Fletcher|first=Harry R.|title=Air Force Bases , Vol. II, Air Bases Outside the United States of America|url=http://media.defense.gov/2010/May/25/2001330286/-1/-1/0/AFD-100525-060.pdf |year=1993|publisher=Center for Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-53-6}}</ref>
* 6910th Security Wing, [[Darmstadt]], Germany, Unknown – 1 February 1970
* 6920th Security Wing, [[Wheeler AFB]], Hawaii, 1 November 1958 – Unknown<ref>[http://www.visiteuropeonline.com/zweibrucken/afsshistory.htm AFSS History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819020801/http://www.visiteuropeonline.com/zweibrucken/afsshistory.htm |date=19 August 2014 }}. Retrieved 10 September 2012</ref>
* 6920th Security Wing, [[Misawa AB]], Japan, 1 February 1976 – 1 October 1978<ref>[http://www.24af.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15332 Mission and Lineage and Honors of the 67th Network Warfare Group] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529181700/http://www.24af.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15332 |date=29 May 2014 }}. Retrieved 10 September 2012</ref>
* 6921st Security Wing, Misawa AB, Japan, 1 September 1962 – 1 February 1976<ref name=Fletcher /><ref>[http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/464/995.xml Abstract, History of 6013th Operations Wing May 1952]. Retrieved 9 September 2012</ref>
* 6922d Security Wing, [[Kadena AB]], Okinawa, then [[Clark AB]], Philippines, 1 July 1963 – 28 January 1973<ref name=Fletcher /><ref>[http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/466/053.xml Abstract, History of 313th Air Div, Jul-Dec 1965]. Retrieved 28 August 2012</ref>
*6931st Security Wing, Iraklion Air Station, Crete, Greece prior to November 1971 and after 23 May 1973
* 6933d Security Wing, [[Karamürsel|Karamursel AS]], Turkey, 1 July 1963 – April 1970<ref>[http://www.merhabaturkey.com/general/tuslogen.htm American Military in Turkey]. Retrieved 10 September 2012</ref>
*6937th Communications Group, Peshawar Pakistan 1959 – Jan 1971
* 6940th Air Base Wing (later 6940th Technical Training Wing and 6940th Security Wing), [[Goodfellow AFB]], TX, 1 October 1958 – 1 July 1978<ref Name=Mueller>{{cite book|last=Mueller|first=Robert|title=Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982|url=http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330255/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-026.pdf |year=1989|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-53-6}}</ref>
* 6940th Electronic Security Wing, [[Fort George G. Meade|Fort Meade]], MD, 1 February 1980 – 1 October 1991<ref>[http://www.foia.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-091217-141.pdf Lineage & Honors History of 6940th Electronic Security Wing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811074648/http://www.foia.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-091217-141.pdf |date=11 August 2014 }}. Retrieved 10 September 2012</ref>
* 6944th Security Wing, [[Offutt AFB]], NE, 1 April 1974 – 1 March 1979<ref name=Mueller />
* 6950th Security Wing. [[RAF Chicksands]], UK, 1 July 1963 – 1 April 1970<ref>{{cite book|last=Willard|first=TSG Richard R.|title=Location of United States Military Units in the United Kingdom, 16 July 1948 – 31 December 1967|orig-year=1968|year=1988|publisher=Historical Division, Office of Information, Third Air Force|location=USAF Air Station, South Ruislip, United Kingdom|lccn=68061579}}</ref>
* 6960th Electronic Security Wing, [[Kelly AFB]], TX, 1 January 1980 – 1 October 1986<ref>''See'' [http://www.foia.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-091021-083.pdf Lineage and Honors History of 68th Network Warfare Squadron] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811074446/http://www.foia.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-091021-083.pdf |date=11 August 2014 }}. Retrieved 10 September 2012</ref>
====Groups and Centers====
* 6901st Special Communications Center, Brooks Air Force Base (to 1 August 1953) Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, 1 July 1953 – 8 August 1953<ref name=BriefHistory>{{cite web |url= https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/17672-u-s-air-force-688th-cyberspace-wing-history |author=No byline|title=A Brief History of the 688th Cyberspace Wing|date=13 January 2016|publisher=688th Cyberspace Wing History Office|access-date=July 9, 2024}}</ref>
* 6902nd Special Communications Center, Brooks Air Force Base (to 1 August 1953) Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, 1 July 1953 – 8 August 1953<ref name=BriefHistory/>
* [[Air Force Special Communications Center]] (later Electronic Warfare Center, Air Force Information Warfare Center, Air Force Information Operations Center), Kelly AFB, Texas, 8 August 1953 – 1 May 2007<ref name=BriefHistory/>
* 6917th Electronic Security Group, [[San Vito dei Normanni Air Station]], Italy, until July 1993
===Stations===
* [[Arlington Hall Station|Arlington Hall]], [[Washington, D.C.]], 26 October 1948
* [[Brooks Air Force Base]], [[San Antonio]], TX, 18 April 1949
* Kelly Air Force Base (now [[Kelly Field Annex]]), San Antonio, TX, 1 August 1953
== List of commanders ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!rowspan=2|{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!colspan=2|Commander
!colspan=3|Term
|-
!Portrait
!Name
!Took office
!Left office
!Term length
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| military_rank     = Major General
| image             = John N. T. Shanahan.jpg
| officeholder      = [[John N.T. Shanahan]]
| officeholder_sort =
| born_year         =
| died_year         =
| term_start        = 29 September 2014
| term_end          = 3 August 2015
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|29 September 2014|3 August 2015}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| military_rank     = Major General
| image             = Bradford J. Shwedo (2).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Bradford J. Shwedo]]
| officeholder_sort =
| born_year         =
| died_year         =
| term_start        = 3 August 2015
| term_end          = 31 May 2017
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|3 August 2015|31 May 2017}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| military_rank     = Major General
| image             = Mary F. O'Brien (2).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Mary F. O’Brien]]
| officeholder_sort =
| born_year         =
| died_year         =
| term_start        = 31 May 2017
| term_end          = 29 August 2019
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|31 May 2017|29 August 2019}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 4
| military_rank     = Major General
| image             = Timothy D. Haugh (4).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Timothy D. Haugh]]
| officeholder_sort =
| born_year         =
| died_year         =
| term_start        = 29 August 2019
| term_end          = 11 October 2019
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|29 August 2019|11 October 2019}}
}}
|}
==See also==
* [[Air Force Office of Special Investigations]]
* [[Military Intelligence Corps]]
* [[National Reconnaissance Office]]
* [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]
==References==
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{official|http://www.25af.af.mil/ }}
{{US Air Force navbox}}
{{USAF Air Combat Command}}
{{Intelligence agencies of USA}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:25th Air Force}}
[[Category:Numbered air forces of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:United States intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Intelligence units of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1948]]
[[Category:1948 establishments in the United States]]