Who exercises C2 and directs operations from the Air Operations Center (AOC)?

• A. COMAFFOR
• B. CJCS
• C. Secretary of the Air Force
• D. Air Mobility Command

Answer: (A)

The commander of Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) is the senior USAF officer in the theater who exercises command and control of all Air Force assets and directs air and space operations from the Air Operations Center. From the AOC, this officer plans, directs, and assesses how air power is used, ensuring it aligns with the joint force commander’s plan. In many operations, the COMAFFOR also serves as the joint forces air component commander (JFACC), giving him or her authority to employ air power across the theater as required. This single point of air-power direction at the theater level is why the COMAFFOR is the correct answer. The other roles don’t perform theater-wide C2 from the AOC: the CJCS is a senior adviser at the joint level, not the theater C2 authority; the Secretary of the Air Force handles policy and service management; Air Mobility Command provides mobility capabilities but does not direct overall theater air operations from the AOC.