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The Air Force Weather Agency ('''AFWA''') is a Field Operating Agency (FOA) and the lead strategic Weather center of the United States Air Force . AFWA enhances the combat capability of the United States by delivering timely, accurate, and reliable environmental situational awareness worldwide to the Air Force, the Army , joint warfighters, Unified Combatant Command s, the national intelligence community, and the Secretary Of Defense . The agency is currently headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base , near Omaha, Nebraska . AFWA is a leader in Military Meteorology . It fields high quality weather equipment and training to Air Force operational weather squadrons and combat weather flights at locations around the world. AFWA builds a comprehensive weather database of forecast, climatological, and Space Weather products. These products and services are exploited by the U.S. Department Of Defense field commanders and decision makers for many military operations, contingency missions, and humanitarian relief efforts conducted by the United States. MISSION The Air Force Weather Agency's mission statement is as follows: "The mission of Air Force Weather Agency is to arm our Nation’s forces with essential air and space environmental intelligence, training, and technical services to ensure battlespace awareness and decision superiority - anytime, anywhere. AFWA is a Field Operating Agency, reporting to United States Air Force Director of Weather, Deputy Chief of Staff Air and Space Operations (USAF/A3O-W)." PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES AFWA manning consists of more than 1,400 active-duty, reserve, civilian and contract personnel and is headquartered on Offutt Air Force Base , Neb. AFWA executes a $175 million annual budget. ORGANIZATION AFWA is organized into a headquarters element, consisting of staff agencies, a group, five directorates, two subordinate centers, and five solar observatories. The 1st Weather Group (1 WXG) aligns stateside weather operations with the Air Force warfighting initiative overseeing Operational Weather Squadrons; the 9th OWS at Shaw AFB, S.C. , the 15th OWS at Scott AFB, Ill. ; the 25th OWS at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. ; and the 26th OWS at Barksdale AFB, La. Each of the four squadrons produces forecasts for a specified area of the United States. The squadrons also serve as training hubs for new weather professionals – both enlisted and officers. The 1 WXG arms our weather professionals with the training and skills necessary to deliver environmental intelligence for commanders and military decision makers. The Operations Directorate (XO) directs the HQ AFWA scheduling and production of quality, worldwide, mission-tailored, terrestrial and space weather products 24-hours a day to meet the requirements of the President, Department Of Defense , unified commands, combat forces of the Air Force and Army, and national intelligence community. This includes the DoD’s only space weather analysis and forecast center. The directorate oversees AFWA’s back-up of five national centers: Aviation Weather Center ; Storm Prediction Center ; Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center ; Space Environment Center ; and the National Center for Environmental Prediction . The Communications and Information Directorate (SC) manages worldwide weather communications systems for Air Force Weather; ensures operational control and information assurance through the Network Operations and Security Center; tracks and assesses network activities and Time Compliance Network Orders; and manages the Information Assurance Awareness Program analyzing COMSEC, COMPUSEC, and EMSEC security standards. The SC also operates HQ AFWA’s data processing resources, develops and maintains software running on HQ AFWA computer systems, and establishes and oversees information management policies and practices across AFWA. The Plans and Programs Directorate (XP) Directs the planning, programming, budgeting, development, acquisition, engineering, configuration management, modification, installation, integration, logistics, and life cycle support of all standard weather systems and computer processing equipment. The Air and Space Science Directorate (DN) directs efforts to improve the terrestrial and space weather information provided to Air Force , Army , and joint operations through exploitation of science and technology; implements new capabilities and products based on operational shortfalls; directs and coordinates Air Force Weather training initiatives and programs. The Operations Analysis Directorate (OA) provides technical guidance to the AFWA Commander and staff for policy development and staff functions related to planning, programming, integration and maintenance for Air Force Weather meteorological, communications and computer systems. SUBORDINATE UNITS Air Force Combat Climatology Center , located at Asheville, North Carolina, uses historical weather data to develop and produce special weather-impact information used in planning and executing worldwide military operations of the Department of Defense and allied nations and in engineering weapon system design and employment. Air Force Combat Weather Center, located at Hurlburt Field , Florida, develops, evaluates, exploits, and implements new tactics, techniques, procedures, and technologies across Air Force Weather to enhance the effectiveness of Air Force, Army, Special Forces, joint, and combined operations. The agency co-sponsors COMET, the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training , with the civilian National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration . NEW BUILDING The new Air Force Weather Agency Building, valued at $29.7 million, with a total of 182,000 sq.ft. is scheduled for completion in late December 2007. The three-story building, designed to support 1,100 people, and is scheduled to become fully operational over a five-year period as the AFWA staff relocates in increments. The new facility will also be a fully certified U.S. Green Building Council Leadership In Energy And Environmental Design structure. The LEED rating is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Being a LEED-certified building means the facility has been designed to and reached a recognized level of implementation and continuous monitoring of their "green" programs such as energy efficiency, recycling and the use of environmentally friendly products. The new AFWA building is an example of the emphasis the Air Force is placing on responsible use of and preservation of the environment. By becoming LEED certified, the AFWA facility will do its part to accomplish the vision of the Air Force Environmental Strategic Plan - fully supporting Air Force missions with natural infrastructure assets while protecting human health and safety and the environment. Initiatives and concepts incorporated into the AFWA headquarters building are part of the reason the Air Force was recently named number one among the nation's top 10 federal government green power partners. DESIGNATIONS, STATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS Designations
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HISTORY AFWA traces its heritage to the organization of the Meteorological Service of the United States Army Signal Corps during World War I . On July 1, 1937, the Secretary of War transferred responsibility for weather services to the Army Air Corps . U.S. Army surgeons began recording Weather Observation s regularly in the early 1800s as part of the Army's medical studies. In 1870, the United States Congress directed the United States Secretary Of War to establish a weather service for the nation. Thus, the Army's first organized military weather service was established in the U.S. Army Signal Corps ; however, this service waned after Congress authorized the creation of the U.S. Weather Bureau, today's National Weather Service , in 1890. America's entry into World War I highlighted once again the need for an organized military weather service. Today's Air Force Weather directly traces its history to the re-emergence of a Meteorological section within the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1917. By the mid-1930s, the Army Air Corps was consuming the majority of the weather data the Signal Corps produced. On July 1, 1937, the Army Air Corps Weather Service, under the leadership of the Chief of the Weather Section in the Office of the Chief of the Army Air Corps, assumed responsibility for all Army weather services from the Signal Corps. During World War II, the Army Air Forces Weather Service girdled the globe with weather stations. The thousands of newly trained weather personnel fine honed the art and science of military weather services. They armed World War II commanders with vital decision-making tools. Many of the war's critical operations were predicated upon weather forecasting. The official lineage of AFWA began April 14, 1943, when the Army Air Forces organized and activated the Weather Wing. On May 3, 1943, the headquarters of the Weather Wing relocated from Washington, District Of Columbia , to Asheville, North Carolina , where it quickly established itself. On July 1st, 1945, the Army Air orces redesignated the Weather Wing the '''Army Air Forces Weather Service''' and on January 7th, 1946, the service moved to Langley Field , Virginia. On March 13, 1946, it was redesignated the '''Air Weather Service''' and assigned to the Air Transport Command , followed soon thereafter with a move to Gravelly Point , Virginia . With the formation of the United States Air Force in 1947, Air Weather Service assumed the responsibility of worldwide weather reporting and forecasting for both the Air Force and the Army. In 1948, Air Weather Service moved to Andrews Air Force Base , Maryland, and was assigned to the newly activated Military Air Transport Service , which was later redesignated Military Airlift Command . Air Weather Service relocated to Scott Air Force Base , Illinois, in 1958, where it remained for nearly four decades. Air Force Weather, organized as the Air Weather Service from 1947 to 1991, continued to provide environmental awareness for both the Air Force and the Army. By 1991, Air Weather Service had divested itself of its major field structure and the bulk of Air Force Weather was realigned under the direct administration of the supported commands. Air Force Weather has been essentially instrumental in the protection of life and property at home as well. Since World War II, Air Force Weather personnel have provided Hurricane Reconnaissance . In 1948 two Air Force weather officers issued the first Tornado warning. Air Force Weather participated in the development of the nation's severe storm forecasting centers. With its early adoption of emerging computing and communications technologies, Air Force Weather was at the fore of the Space Age . In the 1960s Air Force Weather began assimilating weather data collected from meteorological Satellites . At the same time, Air Force Weather, as the single agent for all of the United States Department Of Defense , began Solar Observation s and forecasting. Air Force Weather endorsed the Information Revolution early in the 1980s with tools that provided state-of-the art computing at the lowest echelons to gather, process, and disseminate weather data. In concert with Air Force communicators, Air Force Weather constructed communications networks that enabled weather information to be disseminated around the world in moments. Today, Air Force Weather employs the Internet to rapidly disseminate weather data around the globe. Working with the other national agencies, Air Force Weather has been instrumental in the development of modern meteorological technologies, such as the deployment of NEXRAD , the Next Generation Radar, in the 1990s. Air Force Weather continues to refine and develop forecasting models relevant for modern military operations. In April 1991, the Office of the Director of Weather was created on the Air Staff to provide policy and guidance for Air Force Weather. During the later half of the 1990s and continuing into the 21st century, Air Force Weather has re-engineered itself to better meet the demands of modern military operations. The Air Force designated Air Weather Service a field operating agency and re-assigned it to Headquarters United States Air Force in 1991. On Oct. 15, 1997, Air Weather Service was redesignated the Air Force Weather Agency and relocated to Offutt AFB , Nebraska . AWARDS AND HONORS
SEE ALSO 1st Weather Group 9th Operational Weather Squadron 15th Operational Weather Squadron 25th Operational Weather Squadron 26th Operational Weather Squadron EXTERNAL LINKS
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