AF/XI - Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighting Integration
The Air Force's transformation efforts led to a reorganization of its command, control and communications activities, including the creation of a new headquarters Air Force office and the loss of another. Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighting Integration, or AF/XI, stood up 29 April 2002 with Lt. Gen. Leslie F. Kenne at the helm.
"The integration of command and control and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and their supporting communications infrastructure is key to transforming how the Air Force conducts joint and combined operations on a global basis," General Kenne said. "The integration of these capabilities to support commanders is the focus of this new organization."
The new office's mission will be to streamline the way the Air Force finds, tracks, assesses and engages targets by integrating manned, unmanned and space systems. That will enhance the Air Force's ability to work closely with forces of the other services, and boost its contributions to national defense as well, said Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche. "These changes will best posture the Air Force to enhance our contribution to national security by exploiting the synergies within command and control, communications and computers, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities," Secretary Roche said. "The secretary of defense has charged us with the task of working effectively together to execute our joint responsibilities to provide global reconnaissance and strike capabilities for this nation," he said.
The new organization will effectively merge many of the key abilities of Air Force warfighters, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper. "Successful operations depend on modernized air and space capabilities to quickly find, fix, track and attack targets," General Jumper said. "I have explicitly charged the new AF/XI to close the seams in this kill chain by integrating manned, unmanned and space systems, thereby enabling commanders to create desired effects in the battlespace," he said.
The office of the deputy chief of staff for communications and information, or AF/SC, was disestablished the same day, with a major portion of its responsibilities and resources going to AF/XI. AF/XI is the "senior communicator" for the Air Force, according to Air Force officials, and represents the Air Force on communications matters to external agencies. However, AF/XI's focus will be on working warfighting integration.
The remainder of AF/SC transferred to the newly formed directorate of communication operations, AF/ILC, under the deputy chief of staff for installations and logistics. AF/ILC's mission includes developing policies and procedures for daily communication operations and maintenance, while ensuring the communications and information community is trained, organized and equipped for full-spectrum operations. AF/ILC will act as the air staff's directorate for crisis response and contingency operations, and will focus on day-to-day operations of the communications and information systems.
The directorate of command and control was also disestablished, with key responsibilities also moving to AF/XI.
Other changes resulting from the reorganization include:
- The Air Force Pentagon Communications Agency became a field operating agency under AF/ILC;
- The Air Force Communications Agency, Air Force Frequency Management Agency, and the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation all became FOAs under AF/XI; and
- The Air Force Command and Control and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center at Langley Air Force Base, Va., except for selected elements, became a FOA under AF/XI.
- The Warrior Schoolhouse at Hurlburt Field, Fla., and the UAV Battle Lab remain aligned with Air Combat Command.
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