Sixteenth Air Force

Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber)
Shield of the Sixteenth Air Force
Active	1954–2006 2006–2008 2019–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Numbered Air Force
Role	Cyber warfare Electronic warfare Information operations Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
Part of	Air Combat Command
Headquarters	Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Engagements	Kosovo Campaign
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (7x)
Commanders
Commander	Lt Gen Kevin B. Kennedy Jr.
Deputy Commander	Maj Gen Thomas K. Hensley
Deputy Commander	Col Melissa A. Stone
Command Chief	CMSgt Robert L. Hopkins
Notable commanders	Winfield S. Harpe
Insignia
Shield of Air Forces Cyber
Headquarters of Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber Air Force

The Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) (16 AF) is a United States Air Force (USAF) organization responsible for information warfare, which encompasses intelligence gathering and analysis, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber warfare and electronic warfare operations. Its headquarters is at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas.

The organization was the first newly established Numbered Air Force (NAF) by the USAF after World War II. It was activated in 1954 as a Joint Military Group to provide command and control of USAF activities in Spain, being designated a NAF in 1956. In 1957, 16 AF was realigned under Strategic Air Command (SAC) to provide command and control of SAC bases and B-47 Stratojet rotational units assigned and deployed to Spain and Morocco.

In 1966, after SAC withdrew its forces from Europe, 16 AF became part of the United States Air Forces in Europe, providing command and control of USAFE forces initially in Spain and North Africa, and later in Italy and Turkey until 2006. It later became a provisional Air Expeditionary Task Force under USAFE as part of the Global War on Terrorism.