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 Twentieth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force with headquarters at F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., in the Cheyenne community. Twentieth Air Force is
responsible for the nation's three intercontinental ballistic missile wings.
Twentieth Air Force headquarters has dual responsibilities to Air Force Global Strike Command and United States Strategic Command. As the missile Numbered Air Force for AFGSC, Twentieth Air Force is responsible for maintaining and operating the Air Force's ICBM force. Designated as STRATCOM's Task Force 214, Twentieth Air Force provides on-alert, combat ready ICBMs to the president.
Mission
America's ICBM team deterring conflict with professional people and safe, secure, ready missiles
Vision
American Airmen with special trust and responsibility for the most powerful weapons in our nation's arsenal ... an elite, highly disciplined team ... building a model command.
What We Value
- Individual responsibility for mission success
- Critical self-assessment of our performance
- Uncompromising adherence to all directives
- Superior technical and weapons system expertise
- Pride in our nuclear heritage and mission
- Respect for the worth and dignity of every Airman
- Safety in all things
Personnel
Approximately 9,600 professionals are assigned to Twentieth Air Force.
Organization
Twentieth Air Force has three ICBM wings -- the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.; the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; and the 91st Missile at Minot AFB, N.D.
Other units
In addition, the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron at Offutt AFB, Neb., falls under Twentieth Air Force.
ICBM Capabilities
America's alert ICBMs are ready to launch on any given day, and America's ICBM team plays a critical role in maintaining global stability and ensuring the nation's safety and security. Approximately 450 Minuteman III missiles provide a critical component of America's on-alert strategic forces. As the nation's "silent sentinels," ICBMs, and the people who operate them, have remained on continuous, around-the-clock alert since 1959.
AFGSC is the Air Force's lead command for and largest operator of UH-1N Iroquois helicopters. The UH-1N supports ICBM operations in missile fields controlled by F. E.. Warren AFB, Malmstrom AFB and Minot AFB.
History
Twentieth Air Force has a proud heritage as America's long-range strategic force. Activated June 20, 1941, the unit's B-29 Superfortresses bombed the Japanese Islands. Twentieth Air Force bombers, the Enola Gay and Bock's Car, brought an early end to World War II after they dropped the first atomic bombs on Japan. Twentieth Air Force units also supported United Nations' forces during the Korean War.
Mar. 1, 1951 - Twentieth Air Force inactivated
Sept. 1, 1991 - Twentieth Air Force reactivated as a component of the Strategic Air Command and was located at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Operationally responsible for all land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, 20th Air Force's rebirth came at a time when America's nuclear forces were entering a decade of unprecedented force reductions and changes. Spawned by the Cold War's end and the breakup of the Soviet Union, these changes reshaped the basic fabric of this nation's nuclear deterrent forces. For the men and women of America's ICBM Team, it proved to be a period of sustained, dramatic change.
ICBM force structure was reduced radically as well during the 1990s, downsizing from six wings to three, and from 1,000 alert ICBMs to 450. These draw downs posed major leadership challenges for airmen at all levels of command.
June. 1, 1992 - Strategic Air Command inactivated and the majority of SAC's assets, including Twentieth Air Force, transferred to the newly created Air Combat Command. The new US Strategic Command assumed combatant command of Twentieth Air Force's ICBMs.
Jul. 1, 1993 - Twentieth Air Force transferred to Air Force Space Command and moved from Vandenberg AFB to F. E. Warren AFB on 1 October 1993.
Dec. 1, 2009 - Air Force Global Strike Command assumed the Air Force's Minuteman III ICBM mission. With the assumption of 20th Air Force, the command gained 20th Air Force's responsibility for all of the 450 ICBMs.
Point of Contact
Twentieth Air Force, Commander's Action Group, 6610 Headquarters Dr, Suite 1; F. E. Warren AFB, Wy. 82005; 307-773-5322; DSN 481-5322; e-mail: 20AF.CVX@warren.af.mil
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