Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2013) |
Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center | |
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AFOEA | |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Maj Gen John P. Newberry |
The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) is a USAF Named Unit, assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The AFNWC operates at the Center level of the AFMC. It is currently under the command of Major General John P. Newberry.
Overview
Established on 31 March 2006, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) is Air Force Materiel Command's (AFMC) center of expertise for nuclear weapon systems. The AFNWC is the single AFMC voice for integrating nuclear weapon systems requirements and nuclear weapon system resource management.[citation needed]
History
The origin of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center began during the post-
Initially part of
The SWC was headquartered at Kirtland AFB. The mission was to provide an organization for development testing of special weapons, including atomic, biological, and chemical weapons, and to increase the efficiency of airborne vehicles to carry these weapons. As a result, the responsibility for biological-chemical warfare research was moved from
SWC served as the primary source for scientific and technical information on special weapons development. To accomplish its mission, SWC redesignated numerous units that had been under the USAF Field Office of Atomic Energy with no change in station. SWC units at Kirtland in 1951 were:[1]
- 4901st Special Weapons (later Support) Wing (Atomic)
- 4925th Special Weapons (later Test) Group (Atomic)
- 4905th Maintenance and Supply Group
- 4910th Air Base Group
It appears that the 4901st Special Weapons Wing had administrative control over the groups, with the 4905th Maintenance and Supply Group and the 4910th Air Base Group serving as support and the base host, respectively, while the
In January 1950, President Truman directed the Atomic Energy Commission to emphasize thermonuclear research, with the prime objective to become operational in delivering hydrogen bombs. The primary USAF group to work on this mission was the 4925th Special Weapons Group. The 4925th Special Weapons Group was a mix of elite U.S. airmen and support personnel tasked with testing all aircraft in the USAF inventory for nuclear weapons delivery capability. The top bomber and fighter pilots in the USAF and expert support personnel were transferred to the 4925th Special Weapons Group. In July 1951, the 4925th Special Weapons Group was redesignated the 4925th Test Group (Atomic) and continued for 11 years as an important component of Kirtland 's nuclear responsibilities.[1]
SWC's responsibilities expanded in July 1951 to include monitoring the Military Weapons Effects Program, the ongoing series of full-scale nuclear tests, and exercising overall control over participating USAF personnel. The 4930th Test Support Group was "a holding cadre for USAF participating personnel of overseas nuclear testing Joint Task Forces".[1]
The command was redesignated the Air Force Special Weapons Center (AFSWC) and assigned to
As the AFSWC, it became one of the distinct research and development centers within the command. Its mission was to ensure the atomic capability of aircraft and missiles. During the 1950s, assigned personnel and aircraft participated in atmospheric nuclear tests in Nevada and the Pacific Proving Grounds. The first Air Force scientific capabilities at the base were created during the mid-1950s. Biophysicists deliberately flew aircraft through nuclear clouds to determine radiation hazards. Engineers also launched sounding rockets so physicists could study the effects of high-altitude nuclear explosions and the nature of the recently discovered Van Allen radiation belts around the Earth.
From the early years of Cold War, the need to test and evaluate supersonic aircraft technologies, associated munitions, and eventually space systems, required the Air Force to build specialized ground test facilities. As nuclear weapons and electronics became more a part of air power, two new locations for Test and Evaluation (T&E) were created. The Special Weapons Center (SWC) at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico concentrated on the technologies supporting nuclear weapons development.
Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts concentrated on new levels of sophistication in electronics and avionics development. However, both locations were closed for testing in the late 1970s because the Air Force felt that limited Research and Development funds were better spent on technology than on infrastructure.
One aspect of the testing environment involves the features a particular location might offer that could help (or hinder) testing of weapons such as supersonic aircraft technologies, associated munitions, and space systems. For example, the Special Weapons Center was established at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico because of the concentration of technologies and industries supporting nuclear weapons development in the region.
In 1958 Special Weapons Center scientists began to simulate the effects of nuclear explosions in order to strengthen US missiles, missile sites and aircraft against possible enemy attack. It was in 1958 that a nuclear effects simulator was first constructed in an abandoned dining hall at Kirtland.
In the wake of the signing of the
The Special Weapons Center took over management of
Because of budget restrictions and the need to save money, the Air Force Special Weapons Center was disestablished on 1 April 1976. In 1976 AFSWC was closed and OPR functions came to the AFWL. Special Weapons Center's responsibilities as Kirtland's "landlord" were also transferred to the Air Force Contract Management Division on the same day.
Twenty-first century
On 31 March 2006, the Air Force reactivated the unit as the Nuclear Weapons Center, combining oversight of nuclear weapons under a single organization. In 2008, the Nuclear Weapons Center was redesignated the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center.
The Nuclear Weapons Center, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Systems Directorate at Hill AFB, Utah provides technical support to Simulated Electronic Launch Minuteman (SELM) tests. The tests verify the reliability of the
The information obtained from tests provide a complete assessment of the weapon systems for
In an effort to simplify nuclear sustainment and acquisition, the Nuclear Weapons Center was reorganized again in 2015. The
Lineage
- Established as: 428th Army Air Forces Base Unit (Flight Test) (later: Special) and activated, 1 February 1946
- Re-designated as: 2758th Air Force Base Unit, 28 August 1948
- Re-designated as: 2758th Experimental Wing, 1 June 1949
- Established as the Special Weapons Command (a USAF Major Command), and activated on 1 December 1949
- 2758th Experimental Wing becoming subordinate unit
- Re-designated: Air Force Special Weapons Center (lost Major Command status) on 1 April 1952
- Inactivated on: 1 April 1976
- Re-designated: Nuclear Weapons Center on 14 February 2006
- Activated on: 31 March 2006
- Re-designated: Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center on 29 February 2008
Components
- 377th Air Base Wing, 31 March 2006 – 30 September 2015
- 498th Nuclear Systems Wing, 31 March 2006 – 27 January 2012[6]
- 2758th Experimental Wing, 1 December 1949
- Re-designated: 4901st Special Weapons Wing, 1 December 1949
- Re-designated: 4901st Support Wing (Atomic), 1 July 1951
- Re-designated: 4900th Air Base Group (later Wing), 1 April 1952 – 1 April 1976
- 4910th Air Base Group, 1 December 1949 – 1 May 1955
- 4925th Special Weapons Group, 1 December 1949
- Re-designated: 4925th Test Group, 1 July 1951 – 31 August 1961
- 4950th Test Group (Nuclear), 1 September 1956 – 16 August 1961
Assignments
- 58th Bombardment Wing, 1 February-1 December 1946
- Air Force Materiel Command, 1 December 1946
- USAF Field Office of Atomic Energy, 28 August 1948
- Headquarters United States Air Force, 1 Dec 1949
- Air Research and Development (later, Air Force Systems) Command, 1 Apr 1952 – 1 Apr 1976
- Air Force Materiel Command, 31 Mar 2006 – present
Stations
- Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, 1 February 1946 – 1 April 1976; 31 March 2006 – Present
List of commanders
No. | Commander | Term | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | |
1 | Colonel Terrence Feehan[7] | July 2006 | April 2008 | ~1 year, 275 days | |
2 | April 2008 | 20 January 2011 | ~2 years, 294 days | ||
3 | Brigadier General Garrett Harencak[9] | 20 January 2011 | 6 February 2013 | 2 years, 17 days | |
4 | Major General Sandra Finan[10] | 6 February 2013 | 1 October 2015 | 2 years, 236 days | |
5 | Major General Scott Jansson[11] | 1 October 2015 | 5 October 2017 | 2 years, 4 days | |
6 | Major General Shaun Morris | 6 October 2017 | 26 July 2020 | 2 years, 294 days | |
7 | Major General Anthony Genatempo | 26 July 2020 | 21 June 2022 | 1 year, 330 days | |
8 | Major General John P. Newberry[12] | 21 June 2022 | Incumbent | 1 year, 293 days |
See also
- LGM-118A Peacekeeper
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- ^ a b c d e NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES HISTORIC CONTEXT AND EVALUATION FOR KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE Albuquerque, New Mexico Archived 1 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Directorate". Hill Air Force Base. 15 March 2012. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ Pike, John. "44th Missile Wing". www.globalsecurity.org.
- ^ "AFNWC welcomes new commander". October 2015.
- ^ "AF Nuclear Weapons Center reorganizes". April 2015.
- ^ "Unit Shifted to Air Force Nuclear Command | Analysis | NTI".
- ^ "Major General Terrence A. "Terry" Feehan".
- ^ "Major General Everett H. Thomas".
- ^ "Major General Garrett Harencak".
- ^ "Major General Sandra e. Finan".
- ^ "Major General Scott W. Jansson".
- ^ "Brigadier General John P. Newberry".
External links