In any uniformed defense structure, adhering to the chain of command is considered to a vital duty of every single individual. Every soldier has a superior above him, and he must only report to him and take orders from him on a regular basis. But in times of emergency, orders may be imparted from somewhere higher up the chain, and a soldier has no choice but to obey these orders as well and keep the chain of command in mind. Uniformed services are well-known for their discipline and their adherence to rules, so someone who dismisses the chain of command will have to face severe consequences sooner or later.
The United States Air Force (USAF) is one of the seven uniformed departments of the United States armed forces, and its task is to handle aerial warfare and aerial defense of the country, through any means possible. The USAF was formed in 1947 and it comes under the Department of Defense, and its headquarter is located inside the Pentagon. At present, the US air force is said to be the most sophisticated in the world, and it has more than 350,000 active personnel, 75,000 reserve personnel, 100,000 guard personnel, 6,000 airplanes out of which around 2,000 are fighter jets and around 35 satellites. With so much manpower and firepower, it is no surprise that the members of the air force should know all about their immediate superiors, and the proper air force chain of command as well.
Air Force Chain of Command Chart 2011
This chain of command for the air force has been in place ever since the air force was installed in 1947, and every single member of the air force has to respect this chain, no matter what. Each of the individuals mentioned here are highly respected and guarded members of the air force, and each of them has information that can prove vital to the defense of the country. As a result, they should be treated with utmost respect, and their commands should be followed by all members of the air force, no matter what.
| Designation | Current Occupant |
| President of USA | The Honorable Barack Obama |
| Vice President of USA | The Honorable Joe Biden |
| Secretary of Defense | The Honorable Robert Gates |
| Secretary of the Air Force | The Honorable Michael B. Donley |
| Undersecretary of the Air Force | The Honorable Erin C. Conaton |
| Chief of Staff of the Air Force | General Norton A. Schwartz |
| Vice Chief of Staff | General Philip M. Breedlove |
| Assistant Vice Chief of Staff | Lt. General Richard Y. Newton III |
| Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force | James A. Roy |
| Commander, Air Education and Training Command | General Edward A. Rice Jr. |
| Commander, Air University | Lt. General Allen G. Peck |
| Commander, Holm Center | Brigadier General Roger H. Watkins |
| Commander, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps | Colonel Jefferson S. Dunn |
| Commandant, Officer Training School | Colonel Angela G. Stout |
| Director, Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps | Colonel Debra F. Bean |
| Commander, Civil Air Patrol-USAF | Colonel William R. Ward |
With this information in hand, you can also learn about the army chain of command and the navy chain of command as well. All uniformed services have fixed chains of command like this which need to be adhered to very strictly, and this knowledge should be known to all members of that service as well. The supreme commander of the air force is the President of the United States though, and ultimately it is his responsibility to ensure that all matters pertinent to the air force and other military structures are resolved in the proper manner.