Spain Appointed as New Commander for Air Combat Command
The Air Combat Command (ACC), a critical component of the U.S. Air Force, is poised for a leadership change as Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain has been nominated to take over from Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, who is retiring. Lt. Gen. Case A. Cunningham has been nominated to succeed Lt. Gen. Spain as the Air Force A-3.
The ACC, the largest command in the Air Force, is responsible for organising, training, and equipping most of the service's air, cyber, and electronic warfare forces. It plays a crucial role in projecting combat airpower globally, maintaining air superiority, and conducting global information operations. The command's diverse mission set emphasises readiness and modernisation, ensuring a technological edge, fiscal responsibility, and robust intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to deter adversaries and protect national interests in a rapidly evolving threat environment, such as against challenges posed by China.
Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain, if confirmed, would command more than 150,000 personnel and 1,000 aircraft. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having held several staff positions at U.S. military commands around the world, led the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing out of Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, and led the 53rd Wing, a major test unit at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He has also been the principal architect of the Air Force's plan to overhaul combat deployments, aiming to train more capable, cohesive teams that rotate into overseas assignments in a more predictable manner.
However, Lt. Gen. Spain faces significant challenges within Air Combat Command, including inheriting decades-old equipment and planning for next-generation weapons. He has accumulated over 2,150 flight hours across more than a dozen airframes, including over 200 hours in both F-15s and F-22s.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Case A. Cunningham brings a unique perspective to his nomination, having commanded the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team and working at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. His leadership in an expeditionary reconnaissance wing in Afghanistan further underscores his readiness for a command role.
The aim of the overhaul is to train more capable, cohesive teams that rotate into overseas assignments in a more predictable manner. This will ensure that the ACC remains at the forefront of U.S. Air Force operations, providing combat air dominance and integrating coalition partners to enhance operational decision-making and deterrence in contested environments.
As of June 2025, Gen. Wilsbach continues to guide the command's priorities, challenges, and modernization vision. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink recently visited ACC headquarters, where he met with Gen. Wilsbach and other leaders to discuss the command's diverse mission set and its emphasis on readiness and modernization.
[1] https://www.airforcemag.com/ [2] https://www.af.mil/ [4] https://www.defenseone.com/
- The Air Combat Command (ACC), a critical component of the U.S. Air Force and the largest command in the service, is responsible for organising, training, and equipping most of the military's air, cyber, and electronic warfare forces.
- In the rapidly evolving threat environment, such as against challenges posed by China, the command's diverse mission set emphasises readiness and modernisation, ensuring a technological edge, fiscal responsibility, and robust intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
- Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain, if confirmed, would command more than 150,000 personnel and 1,000 aircraft, and he faces significant challenges within Air Combat Command, including inheriting decades-old equipment and planning for next-generation weapons.
- Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Case A. Cunningham, nominated to succeed Lt. Gen. Spain as the Air Force A-3, brings a unique perspective to his nomination, having commanded the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team and working at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
- The Pentagon, the central hub for the U.S. military, is currently addressing the finance aspects of the Air Combat Command's modernisation vision, with Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink visiting ACC headquarters to discuss the command's diverse mission set, priorities, and modernization plans.
