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618th TACC changes name

  • Published
  • By Capt. Justin Brockhoff
  • 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center)
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, 18th Air Force's hub for worldwide airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation, has been redesignated as the 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center).

The redesignation, which went into effect Monday, is the result of Headquarters Air Force direction to adopt a new, standard terminology across all of the Air Force's Air and Space Operation Centers, according to officials.

"Our new designation aligns us with the other AOCs and retains our TACC heritage at the same time," said Brig. Gen. Sam Cox, the 618th AOC (TACC) commander. "As an AOC supporting U.S. efforts worldwide, this new designation brings us under a common name with the other air and space ops centers. At the same time, the TACC was the first command and control hub of its kind, and in an effort to maintain that history, TACC remains part of our official designation."

As the hub for global mobility operations, the 618th AOC (TACC), at Scott Air Force Base plans, tasks and directs a fleet of nearly 1,300 Air Force mobility aircraft in support of strategic airlift, air refueling, and aeromedical evacuation operations around the world. In addition to the Air Force planes it directs, the 618th AOC (TACC) also works with 50 to 60 commercial contract carrier aircraft flying troop and cargo movements to supplement the AMC fleet.

The 618th AOC (TACC) has planned, tasked and command-and-controlled more than 72,000 point-to-point flights, called sorties, so far in 2010. Among the efforts supported by the 618th AOC (TACC) are the Presidentially-directed 30,000 troop plus-up in Afghanistan, humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti and Pakistan, and a major flexing of the air mobility system when volcanic activity shut down air operations over northern Europe. The sorties controlled by the 618th AOC (TACC) have delivered more than 1.2 million passengers, 523 thousand tons of cargo, and off-loaded 20 million gallons of gas via air-to-air refueling, this year alone.

In addition to adopting a standard terminology for all AOCs, the same Headquarters Air Force direction recategorized all AOCs as either functional or geographic, ending the use of the terms 'falconer' or 'tailored', according to officials.

Functional AOCs, like the 618th AOC (TACC), support functional combatant commanders by providing specific capabilities all over the world including air mobility, space operations, global strike and special operations support. Geographic AOCs, such as U.S. Southern Command or U.S. Central Command, support geographic combatant commanders within a defined area of responsibility, while relying on the functional AOCs to provide specialized support when and where needed.

AMC officials emphasize that the mission of the 618th AOC (TACC) remains unchanged. The unit's personnel will continue working hand-in-hand with AMC's aircrews, maintenance experts, aerial porters and mission support specialists to keep AMC operations running smoothly worldwide.

The 618th AOC (TACC) was established April 1, 1992, in the wake of the realignment that de-activated Military Airlift Command and created Air Mobility Command. Air mobility leadership sought to simplify the execution of the worldwide mobility mission and created the TACC as a highly efficient organization to centralize command and control operations previously located within numbered air forces and airlift divisions. Fifteen years later, the TACC was redesignated the 618th TACC on April 1, 2007, and remained under that designation until now.

"The work we do at the 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) is as integral to the mission as pushing throttles or being on the flight line," added General Cox. "We support deployed Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines every day, and we will be the same dedicated mission partner as we move forward under our new designation."