Lethal, agile, ready: 35 years of Air Force Special Operations Command
Lt. Gen. Mike Conley, Commander of AFSOC, reflects on the importance of the command over its 35 years, and looks ahead to its future.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Conley, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, is greeted by Lt. Col. Christopher Beets, commander of the 67th Special Operations Squadron, during a visit to RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, Nov. 12, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Westin Warburton)
After the failed attempt to rescue Iranian-held hostages in 1980, America recognized the need for a permanent, professional Special Operations Force, trained and ready to respond to crises at a moment’s notice. In 1987, United States Special Operation Command was established. Three years later, on May 22, 1990, the 23rd Air Force was redesignated as Air Force Special Operations Command, entrusted with a modest fleet of helicopters, cargo aircraft, and Special Tactics personnel.
This week, AFSOC marks our 35th anniversary as a major command. Over that time, Air Commandos dealt with a continuously changing global environment. Whether it was evacuating Americans to safety or eliminating terrorists from their safe havens, Air Commandos moved quickly to where our nation needed us.
As we begin our 35th year, the strategic landscape Americans face is more volatile and nuanced than any point in our existence, with globe-spanning challenges that increasingly extend into the information, space, and cyber domains. But AFSOC is not waiting to rebuild — we’re ready, we’re adapting and we’re moving out.
Throughout our history, one constant has defined AFSOC: our ability to adapt and meet the nation’s needs. The Global War on Terror thrust AFSOC’s unique capabilities and the unmatched skills of our Air Commandos to the forefront of military operations. Since 9/11, Air Commandos have earned more than 400 Bronze Star Medals with Valor, 64 Silver Stars, 12 Air Force Crosses, and 123 Distinguished Flying Crosses. In 2018, MSgt John Chapman became the first airman awarded the Medal of Honor since Vietnam. Despite being the Air Force’s smallest major command, we made relentless lethality our calling card. Wherever our joint and coalition teammates needed us, we were there.
We remain proud of this legacy and continue to protect the homeland from terrorism and violent extremism — even as the threat landscape expands. AFSOC does not have the luxury of focusing on a single threat; we must execute critical crisis response and counterterrorism operations while simultaneously delivering credible deterrence to adversaries that wish our nation harm. Meeting this challenge head-on requires consistent and forward-looking investment in the capabilities that will ensure we win in future conflicts.
Our strength lies in the ability to shape-shift to the evolving nature of conflict. We embrace the changing strategic landscape and leverage every tool in our arsenal to operate across multiple domains in ways only special operations forces can. Lethality is ingrained in our warrior ethos and engineered into every platform.
We deliberately modify our aircraft to be versatile and modular, incorporating open system architecture in each of our weapon systems. Paired with advanced training methodologies, we are rapidly tailoring our assets and personnel to meet America’s needs with unparalleled precision and speed.
Implementing lessons learned from our partners and allies, we are upgrading our electromagnetic spectrum operations capabilities. These technological advancements are coupled with focused training and cross-functional teamwork, ensuring our Air Commandos are prepared to dominate in contested battlespaces.
Our Special Tactics teams continually evolve and refine their unique skills delivering air-to-ground integration on the battlefield. Their courage and expertise have made them the Air Force’s most decorated airmen. Today, we extend the joint all domain command and control network at the forward edge, operating where others cannot.
The next battlefield will require Agile Combat Employment. ACE is not theoretical to us: It’s how we train and fight. We continue refining these approaches, executing decentralized operations to keep adversaries off balance, while maximizing survivability. ACE ensures our forces possess the speed and lethality required in modern conflict.
Our readiness is not accidental. It demands continued investment, high-end training, bold innovation, and unwavering belief in the quiet professionals who stand at the edge of every mission. As we enter our next 35 years, we invite our partners — across industry, government, and the joint force — to help shape the future of AFSOC with us.
Today’s global security environment is unpredictable, but AFSOC’s value is certain. From our people to our weapons systems, adaptability and agility are in our DNA. We were purpose-built for this time. AFSOC’s enduring relevance rests on our ability to deliver lethal solutions in missions others can’t, or dare not, undertake.
While honoring the legacy of those who came before us, we look towards the future and are certain, AFSOC’s greatest days lie ahead.
Lt. Gen. Mike Conley is the Commander of AFSOC.
