Twenty-Third Air Force

The Twenty-Third Air Force (Air Forces Special Operations Forces) was a Numbered Air Force that was assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command. It was stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida and was active from 1 January 2008 until 4 April 2013. It served as the operational headquarters for Air Force special operations forces assigned to joint and combined commands. Starting in 2012, it transferred operational control of some of its units to other headquarters; its remaining functions were assumed by the Air Force Special Operations Command Air Operations Center when it was inactivated the following year.

This article is about the numbered air force active from 2008 to 2013. For the Twenty-Third Air Force established in 1983, see Air Force Special Operations Command.

Twenty-Third Air Force
(Air Forces Special Operations Forces)
Shield of the Twenty-Third Air Force[lower-alpha 1]
Active1 January 2008 – 4 April 2013
(5 years, 3 months)
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeNumbered Air Force
RoleSpecial Operations
Part of Air Force Special Operations Command
U.S. Special Operations Command

History

On 1 January 2008, Twenty-Third Air Force was established at Hurlburt Field as Air Force Special Operations Command's only Numbered Air Force with responsibility for Air Force Special Operations Forces.[1] It was established as the headquarters to execute Air Force Special Operations Command missions supporting United States Special Operations Command.[2]

The mission of Twenty-Third Air Force was to provide special operations forces to deployed air commanders. Its mission was to monitor and control global special operations activity to senior leaders; providing trained special operations command and control, intelligence, and weather support elements to theater special operations commanders and executing command and control for air, space and cyberspace operations supporting United States Special Operations Command.[2]

Its 623rd Air and Space Operations Center included personnel and equipment to form joint special operations air components, responsible for planning and executing joint special operations air activities. and integrating special operations with conventional air operations. The 23rd Weather Squadron provided global weather coverage for Joint, Army, and Air Force special operations missions. The 11th Intelligence Squadron created intelligence products tailored for special operations missions. Finally, the 18th Flight Test Squadron evaluated aircraft, equipment, and tactics to assess their mission capability.[2]

Upon its inactivation its mission was transferred to its subordinate 623rd Air Operations Center, which was reassigned to Air Force Special Operations Command and renamed the Air Force Special Operations Command Operations Center.[3]

Lineage
  • Established as Twenty-Third Air Force (Air Force Special Operations Forces) on 30 November 2007[1]
Activated on 1 January 2008[1]
Inactivated on 4 April 2013[3]

Assignments
  • Air Force Special Operations Command, 1 January 2008 – 4 April 2013[1][3]

Components
  • 623rd Air and Space Operations Center (later 623rd Air Operations Center), 1 January 2008 – 4 April 2013[1][3]
  • 23rd Weather Squadron, 1 January 2008 – 28 March 2013 (attached to 1st Special Operations Group after 31 July 2012)[4]
  • 11th Intelligence Squadron, 1 January 2008 – 31 July 2012[5]
  • 18th Flight Test Squadron, 1 January 2008 – 12 February 2013[6][7]

Stations
  • Hurlburt Field, Florida, 1 January 2008 – 4 April 2013[1][3]

List of commanders
No. Commander[1] Term
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Michael W. Callan
Callan, Michael W.Brigadier General
Michael W. Callan		1 January 200814 July 2008195 days
2
Thomas J. Trask
Trask, Thomas J.Brigadier General
Thomas J. Trask		14 July 20087 January 2009177 days
3
Richard S. Haddad
Haddad, Richard S.Brigadier General
Richard S. Haddad		7 January 20093 April 200986 days
4
Marshall B. Webb
Webb, Marshall B.Brigadier General
Marshall B. Webb[9]		3 April 2009June 2010c. 1 year, 73 days
5
George F. Williams
Williams, George F.Brigadier General
George F. Williams[11]		April 2010August 2010c. 122 days
?
Timothy J. Leahy
Leahy, Timothy J.Brigadier General
Timothy J. Leahy[13]		August 20124 April 2013c. 232 days

Notes
  1. Approved 27 December 2007[1]

References
  1. Kane, Robert B. (30 June 2009). "Twenty-Third Air Force (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  2. "Twenty-Third Air Force". Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs. 17 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  3. "23rd AF deactivates [sic]". Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs. 5 April 2013. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  4. Robertson, Patsy (5 September 2013). "Factsheet 23d Special Operations Weather Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  5. Dollman, TSG David (21 October 2016). "Factsheet 11th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  6. Robertson, Patsy (22 April 2008). "Factsheet 18 Flight Test Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  7. Sanchez, Raquel (12 February 2013). "AFSOC stands up Air Warfare Center". Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  8. "Lieutenant General Marshall B. 'Brad' Webb". United States Air Force. September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  9. "Lieutenant General Marshall B. 'Brad' Webb". United States Air Force. September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  10. "Brigadier General George F. Williams". United States Air Force. March 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  11. "Brigadier General George F. Williams". United States Air Force. March 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  12. "Major General Timothy J. Leahy". United States Air Force. July 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  13. "Major General Timothy J. Leahy". United States Air Force. July 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2023.

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

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