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CONR-1AF (AFNORTH & AFSPACE)

Mission

With its headquarters at Tyndall Air Force Base, near Panama City, Florida, the 1st Air Force is one of four numbered air forces assigned to Air Combat Command. It has the responsibility of ensuring the air sovereignty and air defense of the continental United States (CONUS).

As the CONUS geographical component of the binational North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), it provides airspace warning and control and directs all air sovereignty activities for the continental United States. As the Air Component to U.S. Northern Command, Air Forces Northern (AFNORTH) is focused on Homeland Defense, Defense Support of Civil Authorities, and Theater Security Cooperation. As the Air Component to U.S. Space Command, Air Forces Space (AFSPACE), its capabilities include providing human space flight support, search and recovery (SAR) for astronaut personnel, and recovery of space flight material to U.S. Space Command.  Collectively, the missions and functions of CONR-1AF (AFNORTH and AFSPACE) encompass global responsibilities and activities; and support our nation’s growing presence and capabilities in air and space.

CONR (Continental United States NORAD Region)

CONR has a history of more than sixty-six years of successful operations, with missions defined by the NORAD Agreement. This agreement focuses on aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning. Reporting to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the CONR Commander also serves as the Combined Force Air Component Commander (CFACC), the Airspace Control Authority (ACA), and the Area Air Defense Commander (AADC).

1 AF (First Air Force)

First Air Force (1 AF), a Component Numbered Air Force (C-NAF), receives its authorities from Air Combat Command (ACC) and executes airpower through the five Air Force Core Missions: Air and Space Superiority; Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance; Rapid Global Mobility; Global Strike; and Command and Control. 1 AF commands and controls air, cyber, and space forces supporting USNORTHCOM and USSPACECOM. As a Warfighting Headquarters, it facilitates the planning and execution of air, cyber, and space operations. The 1 AF Commander derives authority from service authorities and performs the duties of the service component commander, COMAFFOR.

AFNORTH (Air Forces Northern)

AFNORTH reports to and receives its authorities from U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). As the Air Force service component, AFNORTH focuses on Homeland Defense, Defense Support of Civil Authorities, and Theater Security Cooperation. The AFNORTH commander serves as the Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC), ACA in partnership with the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), AADC, Space Coordinating Authority (SCA), and Collections Operations Manager (COM), and oversees Personnel Recovery (PR) and Search and Rescue (SAR).

AFSPACE (Air Forces Space)

AFSPACE reports to and receives its authorities from U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM). The AFSPACE staff provides air power expertise during the planning, execution, and assessment of air operations in support of USSPACECOM’s campaign and operational plans. Additionally, AFSPACE is designated as the Deputy DoD Manager of Human Space Flight Operations for NASA’s crewed missions. AFSPACE supports USSPACECOM’s efforts to develop requirements, train DoD forces, and conduct support operations when requested by NASA.

History

First Air Force, one of the four original numbered air forces, was activated as the Northeast Air District on December 18, 1940, at Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York, and was redesignated as First Air Force on April 9, 1941. In the early months of World War II, First Air Force was responsible for the air defense of the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. In January 1942, the command commenced shore-based anti-submarine operations flying Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" from Langley Field, Virginia. Later that year, it shifted focus to training combat aircrews for immediate deployment to overseas theaters.

At the end of World War II, First Air Force was tasked with the air defense of the Northeast and continued training roles (primarily with the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve) until its inactivation on June 23, 1958. It was reactivated at Stewart Air Force Base, Newburgh, New York, on January 20, 1966, and was charged with the air defense of the northeastern United States, Greenland, Iceland, and parts of Canada. By July 1968, it had again assumed total responsibility for the air defense of the eastern seaboard, but was inactivated on December 31, 1969, following an air defense reorganization.

On December 6, 1985, the Air Force reactivated First Air Force at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and assigned it to Tactical Air Command. Its mission has since been to provide, train, and equip combat-ready forces for the air defense of North America. First Air Force operates with a unique binational mission, working closely with Canadian Forces, with Canadian personnel stationed at its headquarters at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and at various regional air defense sectors across the U.S.

The activation of the Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR) on October 1, 1986, brought a new structure to the binational NORAD command. In recent years, the responsibility for defending American airspace sovereignty has shifted primarily to the Air National Guard. By the 1990s, the Air National Guard handled 90 percent of the air defense mission. Today, First Air Force consists of Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve members. It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, with multiple Air National Guard fighter wings and two air defense sectors for the Eastern and Western regions of the country.

Since September 11, 2001, CONR has been the lead agency for Operation Noble Eagle, protecting the continental United States from airborne aggression. CONR is divided into the Western Defense Sector at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, and the Eastern Defense Sector at Rome, New York. A Combined Air & Space Operations Center at Tyndall coordinates CONR sector activities and executes the NORAD aerospace control mission.

The creation of the United States Space Force impacted CONR-1AF (AFNORTH & AFSPACE), leading to the activation of Detachment 3 at Patrick AFB, Florida, and Operating Location A at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Texas, to support NASA missions. Efforts to integrate space power into homeland defense missions were solidified with the assignment of First Air Force as the air component to USSPACECOM on March 11, 2021. This designation marked the beginning of Human Space Flight Support (HSFS) missions, providing personnel recovery alert aircraft for astronaut transits and supporting NASA's aerospace control missions.

The creation of Air Forces Space (AFSPACE) as a new component further enhanced the integration of space capabilities within CONR-1AF (AFNORTH & AFSPACE). AFSPACE provides air power expertise during the planning, execution, and assessment of air operations in support of USSPACECOM’s campaigns and operational plans. Additionally, AFSPACE is designated as the Deputy DoD Manager of Human Space Flight Operations for NASA’s crewed missions, supporting USSPACECOM’s efforts to develop requirements, train DoD forces, and conduct support operations when requested by NASA.

AFSPACE's first HSFS mission supported the Soyuz MS-18/64S mission in October 2021, providing Aeromedical Evacuation support for a NASA astronaut. This role underscores the evolution of First Air Force in integrating space operations and enhancing national security through coordinated efforts in air, space, and cyberspace domains.