The 16th Air Force, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, is responsible for the Air Force’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission and capabilities; operationalizing weather forecasting for the joint force; leading the cryptologic activities of the Department; operating and defending the Department’s information network; and commanding and controlling the joint forces assigned by U.S. Cyber Command to execute offensive and defensive cyberspace operations that protect national interests and project combat power. Additionally, 16 AF provides critical warfighting expertise and organizational combat support to the execution of the Department’s kill chains, and the disruption of our adversaries’ attempt to do the same.16 AF operations are focused on creating decisive advantages for the joint warfighter while simultaneously defending U.S. forces’ command and control (C2) capabilities from adversary disruption. The 16 AF footprint includes approximately 45,000 Total Force Airmen across 123 locations globally and our missions support all 11 combatant commands.
As a component Numbered Air Force, 16 AF is subordinate to Air Combat Command and supports the Intelligence Community and Air Force by organizing, training, and equipping, and presenting our assigned forces to combatant commanders.
The Commander 16 AF is responsible as the Cybersecurity Service Provider for the Department of the Air Force Information Network (DAFIN) and as authorizing official for cyberspace weapon systems connecting to the DAFIN. Additionally, 16 AF executes Department of War Information Network (DoWIN) operations and defensive measures on the DAFIN for the Air Force and Space Force.
As the Service Cryptologic Component, 16 AF supports all geographic combatant commands, the Air Force, and the National Security Agency/Central Security Service. The Service Cryptologic component capabilities include ISR, specifically, signals intelligence.
As the Defense Intelligence Component Head, the Commander, 16 AF, oversees intelligence oversight for Air Force DIC intelligence missions and functions and shares the responsibility, with the Headquarters Air Force A6 and Air Force Office of Special Investigations, of overseeing national intelligence and defense intelligence missions conducted by Air Force personnel.
As the Service Cyberspace Component to U.S. Cyber Command (Air Forces Cyber), the 16 AF Commander serves as the CDRAFCYBER, and is responsible as the COMAFFOR for AF forces presented to USCYBERCOM. The Commander also oversees the execution of defense cyber operations missions on the DAF portion of the global DoWIN. AFCYBER serves as the Air Force component to USCYBERCOM, organizing, training, and equipping the Air Force’s cyber forces under service-like authorities from USCYBERCOM.
As the functional component of USCYBERCOM, Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (Air Force), 16 AF provides planning, targeting, command and control (C2), execution, and assessments of offensive cyberspace operations and defensive cyberspace operations in support of four combatant commands: U.S. Cyber Command, U.S. European Command, U.S. Space Command, and U.S. Strategic Command. It also executes delegated SIGINT missions.