View source for Ninth Air Force (2009–2020)

{{Short description|US Air Force unit in South Carolina}}
{{About|the former active numbered air force from 2009 to 2020|the current and historical World War II to 2009 Ninth Air Force|Ninth Air Force}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Ninth Air Force
|image= Ninth Air Force - Emblem.png
|caption= Shield of the Ninth Air Force
|dates=5 August 2009 – 20 August 2020<br/>({{Age in years and months|2009|08|05|2020|08|20}})
|country={{flag|United States of America|23px}}
|branch= [[File:Flag of the United States Air Force.svg|23px]] [[United States Air Force]]
|type= [[Numbered Air Force]]
|role= Provide combat-ready air forces to [[Air Combat Command]]<ref name="globalsecurity">{{Cite web |date=2013-06-04 |title=Ninth Air Force |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/9af.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504205236/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/9af.htm |archive-date=2022-05-04 |website=[[GlobalSecurity.org]]}}</ref>
|size=
|command_structure=[[File:ACC Shield.svg|23px]] [[Air Combat Command]]
|current_commander=
|garrison= [[Shaw Air Force Base]], South Carolina, U.S.
|garrison_label=Headquarters
|nickname=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
<!-- Commanders -->
|commander1=[[Major general (United States)|Maj Gen]] [[Chad Franks]]<ref name="inactivation" />
|commander1_label=Last commander
|notable_commanders=
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label=
}}

The '''Ninth Air Force''' ('''9 AF''') was a [[numbered air force]] of the [[United States Air Force]]'s [[Air Combat Command]] (ACC).  It was headquartered at [[Shaw Air Force Base]], South Carolina, from activation on 5 August 2009 until it was replaced by [[Fifteenth Air Force]] on 20 August 2020.  The prior and current Ninth Air Force is known as [[United States Air Forces Central]] (USAFCENT). On 20 August 2020, USAFCENT was again designated Ninth Air Force in addition to United States Air Forces Central.<ref name="inactivation">{{Cite web |date=2020-08-20 |title=Fifteenth Air Force activates, consolidates ACC's conventional forces |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2319959/fifteenth-air-force-activates-consolidates-accs-conventional-forces/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413234347/https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2319959/fifteenth-air-force-activates-consolidates-accs-conventional-forces/ |archive-date=2022-04-13 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=[[United States Air Force]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Until August 2009, the Ninth Air Force shared its commander with USAFCENT.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-08-06 |title=New leaders take command of redesignated AFCENT, 9th Air Force |url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/119532/new-leaders-take-command-of-redesignated-afcent-9th-air-force/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803193843/https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/119532/new-leaders-take-command-of-redesignated-afcent-9th-air-force/ |archive-date=2022-08-03 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=[[United States Air Force]] |language=en-US}}[https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123162152/ New leaders take command of redesignated AFCENT, 9th Air Force], 6 August 2009, Air Force News Service</ref> In a complicated transfer of lineage, the Second World War-and-after heritage of the Ninth Air Force was bestowed solely on [[United States Air Forces Central]], and a totally new Ninth Air Force, was activated on the U.S. East Coast, where it is responsible for a variety of Air Combat Command units.<ref name="globalsecurity" />

All Ninth Air Force units, as well as units of [[Twelfth Air Force]], were consolidated into [[Fifteenth Air Force]] on 20 August 2020 and Ninth Air Force was inactivated.<ref name="inactivation"/>

== Lineage ==
* Established as '''Ninth Air Force''' on 4 August 2009
: Activated on 5 August 2009<ref name="9AFfacts">{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Patsy |date=2012-02-23 |title=Ninth Air Force (ACC) |url=https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432148/ninth-air-force-acc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913155608/https://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432148/ninth-air-force-acc/ |archive-date=2022-09-13 |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
: Inactivated on 20 August 2020<ref name="inactivation" />
: Disbanded on 5 October 2020<ref name=800RHGfacts>{{Cite web|last1=Musser|first1=James|title=Factsheet 800 RED HORSE Group (ACC)|url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/3156250/800-red-horse-group-acc/ |date=1 September 2022|access-date=20 September 2022|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency}}</ref>

==Assignments==
* [[Air Combat Command]], 5 August 2009 – 20 August 2020<ref name="9AFfacts"/><ref name="inactivation" />

==Major components==
The command was responsible for operational readiness for eight active duty wings and two direct reporting units. These eight wings were:

* [[1st Fighter Wing]], [[Joint Base Langley–Eustis]], Virginia<ref name="9AFfacts"/>
* [[4th Fighter Wing]], [[Seymour Johnson Air Force Base]], North Carolina<ref name="9AFfacts"/>
* [[20th Fighter Wing]], [[Shaw Air Force Base]], South Carolina<ref name="9AFfacts"/>
* [[23rd Wing]], [[Moody Air Force Base]], Georgia<ref name="9AFfacts"/>
* [[93rd Air-Ground Operations Wing]], [[Moody Air Force Base]], Georgia<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Carl E. |date=July 2014 |title=93 Air Ground Operations Wing (ACC) |url=https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432116/93-air-ground-operations-wing-acc/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[325th Fighter Wing]], [[Tyndall Air Force Base]], Florida<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haulman |first=Daniel |author-link=Daniel L. Haulman |date=2015-05-18 |title=325 Fighter Wing (ACC) |url=https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/862228/325-fighter-wing-acc/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[461st Air Control Wing]], [[Robins Air Force Base]], Georgia<ref name="9AFfacts"/>
* [[495th Fighter Group]], Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina<ref>{{Cite web |last=Currier |first=Amanda |date=2013-03-11 |title=Shaw stands up new total force fighter group |url=https://www.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/156361/shaw-stands-up-new-total-force-fighter-group/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=[[Air Force Reserve Command]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[633rd Air Base Wing]], Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haulman |first=Daniel L. |author-link=Daniel L. Haulman |date=2019-03-05 |title=633 Air Base Wing (ACC) |url=https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432851/633-air-base-wing-acc/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Assigned non-flying direct reporting units included:
* 800th RED HORSE Group, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, 1 June 2020 – 20 August 2020<ref name=800RHGfacts/>
* [[819th RED HORSE Squadron]], [[Malmstrom Air Force Base]], Montana{{cn|date=September 2022}}
* [[823rd RED HORSE Squadron]], [[Hurlburt Field]], Florida{{cn|date=September 2022}}

The Ninth Air Force was also responsible for overseeing the operational readiness of 30 designated units of the [[Air National Guard]] and [[Air Force Reserve]].{{cn|date=September 2022}}

== List of commanders ==
{{refimprove section|date=September 2022}}
=== Commander, Ninth Air Force ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!rowspan=2|{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!colspan=2|Commander
!colspan=3|Term
|-
!Portrait
!Name
!Took office
!Left office
!Term length
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| military_rank     = [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
| image             = Maj Gen William L. Holland.jpg
| officeholder      = [[William L. Holland]]
| officeholder_sort = 
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 5 August 2009
| term_end          = 17 August 2010<ref name="9AFfacts"/>
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|5 August 2009|17 August 2010}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| military_rank     = [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
| image             = LIEUTENANT GENERAL STEPHEN L. HOOG usaf.JPG
| officeholder      = [[Stephen L. Hoog]]
| officeholder_sort = 
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 17 August 2010
| term_end          = 17 October 2011<ref name="9AFfacts"/>
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|17 August 2010|17 October 2011}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| military_rank     = [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
| image             = Lawrence L. Wells.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Lawrence L. Wells]]
| officeholder_sort = 
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 17 October 2011
| term_end          = 31 May 2013
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|17 October 2011|31 May 2013}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 4
| military_rank     = [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
| image             = H. D. Polumbo, Jr. (3).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Jake Polumbo]]
| officeholder_sort = 
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 31 May 2013
| term_end          = 31 July 2015
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|31 May 2013|31 July 2015}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 5
| military_rank     = [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
| image             = Mark D. Kelly (2).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Mark D. Kelly]]
| officeholder_sort = 
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 31 July 2015
| term_end          = 17 May 2016
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|31 July 2015|17 May 2016}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 6
| military_rank     = [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
| image             = Scott J. Zobrist (4).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Scott J. Zobrist]]
| officeholder_sort = 
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 17 May 2016
| term_end          = 13 June 2019
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|17 May 2016|13 June 2019}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 7
| military_rank     = [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
| image             = Maj Gen Chad P. Franks.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Chad P. Franks]]
| officeholder_sort = 
| born_year         = 
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 13 June 2019
| term_end          = 20 August 2020
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|13 June 2019|20 August 2020}}
}}
|}

==References==
* {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{reflist|40em}}

==External links==
* {{official site |https://www.9af.acc.af.mil/}}
* [http://cdm15960.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/collection/p15960coll3/searchterm/9th%20Air%20Force%20Association/field/all/mode/exact/conn/and/order/date Archives of the Ninth Air Force Association Digital Collection at The University of Akron Archival Services]
* [http://9thairforce.org/ Ninth Air Force Association]

{{US Air Force navbox}}
{{USAF Air Combat Command}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ninth Air Force (2009-2020)}}
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2009]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Numbered air forces of the United States Air Force|09]]