The 21st Air Force was reactivated on September 5 during a ceremony at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
The 21st Air Force will become enmeshed with the U.S. Expeditionary Center, also headquartered at the Joint Base and their combined operations will provide air mobility support, airlift, air refueling and contingency response operations. This function represents more than 23,000 airmen and 38 locations across 15 countries.
A numbered air force unit, such as the 21st Air Force, is an organization subordinate to a major command unit within the U.S. Air Force. It is comprised of wings, squadrons, and groups.
A numbered air force is a tactical organization focused predominantly on operations as opposed to the strategic focus of the higher command units.
This unit can trace its history to World War II when it was created as part of the Army Air Force.
It became the 21st Air Force in 1966, and in 2003 it was redesignated the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force. It was inactivated in 2012.
Major General Darren Cole was named the commander of the 21st Air Force and the Expeditionary Center at the Joint Base event on September 5.
Cole will be responsible for nine wings, one group, the Expeditionary Operations School and a number of subordinate units.
“The Expeditionary Center has a proud history of organizing, training and equipping the global air mobility support system, sustaining critical power-projection bases and training Airman,” said Cole. “With the activation of the 21st Air Force, our mission is to deliver rapid global mobility excellence.”
Cole is a command pilot who has registered 4,900 flying hours and participated in combat missions in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Resolute Support and Inherent Resolve.
