609th Air Operations Center
| 609th Air Operations Center | |
|---|---|
The Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid in 2019 | |
| Active | 1 January 1994 – present[1] (32 years, 2 months) |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Command and control |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Al Udeid AB, Qatar |
| Engagements | Global war on terrorism |
| Decorations | Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Maj Gen David R. Iverson |
| Insignia | |
| 609th Air Operations Center emblem (Approved 23 January 2004, modified 6 April 2015)[1] | |
| 609th Air and Space Operations Center emblem | |
| 609th Air Operations Group emblem | |
The 609th Air Operations Center (609 AOC) is an active unit of the United States Air Force based at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.[1] The unit is responsible for the daily execution of the air tasking order (ATO) on behalf of the Combined Forces Air Component Commander (CFACC) in the United States Central Command area of responsibility. The unit's personnel work with partners from 18 other nations to complete their mission.[2]
When the Untied States and Israel launched the 2026 Iran War, among the allied and partner liaison officers in the CAOC were the Canadian Forces. "Canada has members of three branches of the military — army, navy and air force —attached to CENTCOM and "we specifically have staff officers inside what's known as the Combined Aerospace Operations Center ... so, they are going to be directly involved in targeting."[3]
Lineage
- Established as the 609th Air Operations Group and activated on 1 January 1994
- Redesignated 609th Air and Space Operations Center on 1 March 2008
- Redesignated 609th Air Operations Center on 1 December 2014[1]
Assignments
- Ninth Air Force (later, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), United States Air Forces Central Command, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central)), 1 January 1994 – present[1]
Components
Stations
- Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, 1 January 1994
- Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, 1 March 2008 – present[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Dollman, David (19 August 2016). "609 Air Operations Center (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "609th Air Operations Center". www.afcent.af.mil. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Did Canadian exchange officers participate in U.S. Iran strike planning? DND says no, but questions linger". CBC News. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
"Unless the Canadian government said, 'No, you cannot be directly engaged in this conflict,' then … typically, when we attach officers to another military and they go to war and the prime minister endorses this attack, then it's quite likely that they're actively engaged in the targeting process," Thompson told CBC News.
- ^ Ream, Margaret (6 July 2021). "609 Air Support Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "609th Air Support Squadron Re-activated". USAFCENT. U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency