Department of the Air Force (DAF)

Department of the Air Force (DAF) — Three Entities, USAF Primary Functions, SecAF

DAF Foundation

Title 10 United States Code, Armed Forces, provides specified duties, responsibilities, and legal obligations of the Department of the Air Force.

USAF Mission

The USAF's mission is to fly, fight, and win…airpower anytime, anywhere.

DAF Composition

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is comprised of:

The secretariat (including the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary's principal staff)
HAF and field units
Headquarters Space Force and field units

DAF Responsibility

It is responsible for:

Preparing the air, space, and cyber forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war and military operations short of war
Expansion of the peacetime components of the USAF and Space Force to meet the needs of war

Three DAF Major Entities

3 DAF Entities

DAF consists of three major entities:

The Secretariat (including the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary's principal staff)
The Air Staff (headed by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force)
The Space Staff (headed by the Chief of Space Operations)

Field Units

DAF Field Units

Field units are the component organizations within the USAF and Space Force.

USAF Primary Functions

USAF Primary Functions Foundation

In addition to general and specific functions of the military branches outlined in the Key West Agreement, there are also primary functions of the branches.

USAF Primary Functions List

The primary functions of the USAF include, but are not limited to:

Organize, train, equip, and provide forces to conduct offensive and defensive operations, to include appropriate air and missile defense, to gain and maintain air superiority and air supremacy as required, to enable the conduct of operations by U.S. and allied land, sea, air, and special operations forces
Conduct nuclear operations in support of strategic deterrence
Conduct global precision attack, to include strategic attack, interdiction, close air support, and prompt global strike
Provide timely, global integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability
Provide rapid global mobility to employ and sustain organic air and space forces and other Military Services, including airlift forces for airborne operations, air logistical support, tanker forces for in-flight refueling, and aeromedical evacuation
Provide agile combat support to enhance the air and space campaign and the deployment, employment, sustainment, and redeployment of air forces
Conduct global personnel recovery operations including theater-wide combat and civil search and rescue
Conduct global integrated command and control for air and space operations

USAF Joint Partner

As stated in AFI 1-1, the USAF will be a trusted and reliable joint partner with our sister services known for integrity in all activities, including supporting the joint mission first and foremost.

USAF Provides

USAF provides compelling air and cyber capabilities for use by the CCDRs. USAF will excel as stewards of all USAF resources in service to the American people, while providing precise and reliable Global Vigilance, Global Reach, and Global Power for the nation.

Secretary of the Air Force (SecAF)

SecAF Appointment

The Secretary of the Air Force (SecAF) is a civilian appointed by the U.S. President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

SecAF Authority

The SecAF is:

The head of the Department of the Air Force
Subject to the authority, control, and direction of the Secretary of Defense

SecAF Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the SecAF include:

Recruiting
Organizing
Supplying
Equipping (including research and development)
Training
Servicing
Mobilizing
Demobilizing
Administering personnel (morale and welfare programs)
Maintaining, constructing, outfitting, and repairing military equipment
Constructing, maintaining, and repairing buildings, structures, and utilities
Acquiring real property and interests in real property