On March 31, 2006, the Air Force established the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M., the unit which oversees both the 377th Air Base Wing and AFNWC Nuclear Capabilities Directorate. The AFNWC is on the east side of the base.

The center's mission is to ensure safe, secure, and reliable nuclear weapon systems to support the National Command Structure and the Air Force war-fighter.

The Vision of the AFNWC is to be the Air Force's Center of Excellence for all nuclear weapon systems activities.

AFNWC strategic principle
Provide war-winning nuclear capabilities ... on time, on cost

Strategic goals
· Maintain nuclear weapons system surety through timely and credible processes

· Enable the development and implementation of nuclear technology to maintain air, space and information dominance

· Sustain war-winning nuclear capabilities to ensure operational readiness and effectiveness

· Provide the work force with career development and progression opportunities

· Maintain and provide a quality work facility/environment

· Sustain a healthy, fit, safe, and ready work force

The 377th ABW is the host unit at Kirtland AFB. It was activated on Jan. 1, 1993, when the Air Force Materiel Command assumed responsibility for operating the base from the Air Mobility Command.

Munitions maintenance remains a primary mission of the base. Maintenance squadrons perform in-depth maintenance on Air Force and Department of Energy assets from around the world. Their objective is to deliver all munitions and support to the correct location on time and in prime operating condition.

The 377th Air Base Wing remains in a constant state of readiness and personnel are continually deployed. The wing also has a significant wartime mobility requirement in various mobility specialties. More than 1,000 people are trained and ready for deployment to any destination at any time.

The 377th Air Base Wing furnishes the talent, resources, equipment and facilities to support the Kirtland AFB community--active duty members, retirees, dependents and civilians. That support includes supply, finance, medical care, housing, civil engineering, fire protection, administrative support, personnel services, legal assistance, transportation, security and law enforcement. 

Our fire protection duties include crash and rescue support for the adjacent Albuquerque International Sunport and Sandia National Laboratories.