Naval Air Force Atlantic
The Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (a. k. a. COMNAVAIRLANT, AIRLANT, and CNAL) is the aviation Type Commander (TYCOM) for the United States Naval aviation units operating primarily in the Atlantic under United States Fleet Forces Command. Type Commanders are in administrative control (ADCON), and in some cases operational control (OPCON) of certain types of assets (ships, submarines, aircraft, and fleet marines) assigned to the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets. AIRLANT is responsible for the material readiness, administration, training, and inspection of units/squadrons under their command, and for providing operationally ready air squadrons and aircraft carriers to the fleet.
COMNAVAIRLANT is headquartered at Naval Support Activity, Hampton Roads. The staff is made up of approximately 650 officer, enlisted, civilian and contractor personnel.
Mission
"Support COMLANTFLT and other commanders by providing combat ready/sustainable naval air forces, trained and equipped in an environment which emphasizes safety, interoperability and efficient resource management."
History
Naval Air Force, US Atlantic Fleet was established on 1 January 1943, at
An important subordinate command for a long period was Commander, Fleet Air Keflavik, at what was
In October 2001, the
List of commanders
Dates | Commander |
---|---|
1943 | RADM Alva D. Bernhard |
1943–1946 | VADM Patrick N. L. Bellinger |
1946–1948 | VADM Gerald F. Bogan |
1948–1951 | VADM Felix B. Stump
|
1951–1954 | VADM John J. Ballentine |
1954–1956 | VADM Frederick W. McMahon |
1956–1960 | VADM William L. Rees |
1960–1963 | VADM Frank O'Beirne |
1963–1965 | VADM Paul H. Ramsey |
1965–1969 | VADM Charles T. Booth |
1969–1972 | VADM Robert L. Townsend |
1972–1975 | VADM Frederick H. Michaelis |
1975–1978 | VADM Howard E. Greer |
1978–1981 | VADM George E.R. Kinnear II
|
1981–1983 | VADM Thomas J. Kilcline |
1983–1983 | VADM Carol C. Smith, Jr. |
1983–1986 | VADM Robert F. Dunn |
1986–1989 | VADM Richard M. Dunleavy |
1989–1991 | VADM John K. Ready |
1991–1994 | VADM Anthony A. Less |
1994–1996 | VADM Richard C. Allen |
1996–1998 | VADM John J. Mazach |
1998–2001 | VADM Joseph S. Mobley |
2001–2002 | RADM Michael D. Malone |
2002–2004 | RADM James M. Zortman |
2004–2006 | RADM H. Denby Starling II |
2006–2008 | RADM John W. Goodwin |
2009–2010 | RADM Richard J. O'Hanlon |
2010–2013 | RADM Ted N. Branch |
2013–2015 | RADM Troy M. Shoemaker |
2015–2016 | RADM John R. Haley |
2016–2017 | RADM Bruce H. Lindsey |
2017–2020 | RADM Roy J. Kelley |
2020–2023 | RADM John F. Meier |
2023–present | RADM Douglas C. Verissimo[3] |
Subordinate Commands
Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet is composed of more than 40,000 men and women who maintain and operate the aircraft carriers, aircraft squadrons and aircraft of the Atlantic Fleet. It provides combat-ready air forces to fleet commanders operating around the globe.
Carrier Strike Groups
There are six Carrier Strike Group commanders who, although not under operational control of COMNAVAIRLANT, work very closely with the staff. CSG commanders are operationally responsible for the carrier, the embarked airwing and the cruisers that make up the battle group.
- Carrier Strike Group Two(George H.W. Bush Battle Group)
- Carrier Strike Group Eight(Eisenhower Battle Group)
- Carrier Strike Group Ten(Truman Battle Group)
- Carrier Strike Group Twelve(Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group)
Aircraft Carriers
The nucleus of the surface battle group is the aircraft carrier. In the Atlantic Fleet, COMNAVAIRLANT has five carriers assigned to carry out the mission of COMLANTFLT and other commanders. One or two of these carriers are usually deployed with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea or with the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf in support of U.S. Central Command. When not deployed or undergoing periodic maintenance/overhaul, or refresher training, these ships operate with United States Fleet Forces Command Task Force 80 in the Western Atlantic or U.S. Fourth Fleet in the Caribbean.
- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
- USS George Washington (CVN-73)
- USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)
- USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)
Carrier air wings
The carrier air wing commander is responsible for a number of squadrons whose missions include attack, fighter, patrol, reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare and logistic support.
Type Wings
Type Wing commanders are individually responsible for major categories of aircraft squadrons. There are four single Navy wide Type Wing commanders for the Airborne Command & Control and Logistics (E-2C,D and C-2A), Electronic Attack (EA-18G), Joint Strike Fighter (F-35C) and Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission (CMV-22B) communities which report to Commander, Naval Air Forces who is dual hatted as Commander, Naval Air Forces U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic Fleet (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGLANT)
- VFA-11 Red Rippers
- VFA-31 Tomcatters
- VFA-32 Swordsmen
- VFA-34 Blue Blasters
- VFA-37 Bulls
- VFA-81 Sunliners
- VFA-83 Rampagers
- VFA-87 Golden Warriors
- VFA-103 Jolly Rogers
- VFA-105 Gunslingers
- VFA-106 Gladiators (FRS)
- VFA-131 Wildcats
- VFA-143 Pukin' Dogs
- VFA-211Fighting Checkmates
- VFA-213 Black Lions
- Strike Fighter Weapons School, Atlantic (STRKFIGHTWPNSCOLANT)
- COMSTRKFITWINGLANT Det Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) Key West
- COMSTRKFITWINGLANT Det AIMD Oceana
Commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, Atlantic Fleet (COMHSMWINGLANT)
- HSM-40 Airwolves (FRS)
- HSM-46 Grandmasters
- HSM-48 Vipers (Expeditionary)
- HSM-50 Valkyries (Expeditionary)
- HSM-70 Spartans
- HSM-72 Proud Warriors
- HSM-74 Swamp Foxes
- HSM-79 Griffins (Expeditionary) (Naval Station Rota, Spain)
- Helicopter Maritime Strike Weapons School, Atlantic (HELMARSTRIKEWEPSCOLANT)
- Naval Surface Rescue Swimmer School, NAS Jacksonville, FL
- Aircraft Carrier Tactical Support Center (CV-TSC), NAS Jacksonville, FL
- Aviation Support Detachment (ASD) Mayport, FL
Commander, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing, Atlantic Fleet (COMHELSEACOMBATWINGLANT)
- HM-12 Sea Dragons (FRS)
- HM-15 Blackhawks (Expeditionary)
- HSC-2 Fleet Angels (FRS)
- HSC-5 Nightdippers
- HSC-7 Dusty Dogs
- HSC-9 Tridents
- HSC-11 Dragonslayers
- HSC-22 Sea Knights (Expeditionary)
- HSC-26 Chargers (Expeditionary)
- HSC-28 Dragon Whales (Expeditionary)
- Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School, Atlantic (HSCWSL)
Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group (COMPATRECONGRU)
(Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group is dual hatted as Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group Pacific. S/He commands the Pacific Fleet Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing TEN under that hat)
- VP-30 Pro's Nest (FRS)
- Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Weapons School (MPRWS)
- (PATRECONFORLANT DET AMPO Jacksonville)
- Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11
- Tactical Support Center (TSC), Rota
- Tactical Support Center (TSC), Sigonella
Miscellaneous commands
- Patuxent River Naval Air Station, MD
- Landing Signal OfficerSchool
- Fleet Air Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC) Jacksonville[permanent dead link]
- Fleet Air Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC) Virginia Capes (VACAPES)
See also
- List of US Naval aircraft
- Military aviation
- Modern US Navy carrier air operations
- Naval aviation
- Naval Flight Officer
- United States Marine Corps Aviation
- United States Naval Aviator
- United States Pacific Fleet
- List of United States Navy aircraft wings
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- Commander, Naval Air Forces
References
- ^ Naval Aviation News January–February 1994
- ^ GlobalSecurity.org, Commander Fleet Air Keflavik
- ^ Ramos, J.G. Jacqueline (2023-08-17). "Naval Air Force Atlantic Welcomes New Commander". Naval Air Force Atlantic. Naval Air Force Atlantic Public Affairs. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
External links
- Official web site
- COMNAVAIRLANT story archive – U.S. Navy
- Command History – COMNAVAIRLANT
- Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet – GlobalSecurity.org
- Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet – Facebook