Aerospace Defense Command

"Air Defense Command" redirects here. For other uses, see Air Defense Command (disambiguation).
For Continental Air Defense Command, see Continental Air Defense Command. For the North American Air Defense Command, see North American Air Defense Command.

Aerospace Defense Command
Shield of Aerospace Defense Command
Active1946–1950; 1951–March 31, 1980
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Army Air Force
(1946–1947)
United States Air Force
(1947–1948) (1951–1980)
Type1975: Specified Command
1946: Major Command
Garrison/HQ1966 April 20: Chidlaw Building, Colorado


1951 January 8: Ent AFB, Colorado

1946 March 21: Mitchel Field, New York

Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for air defense of the continental United States. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was established in 1946, briefly inactivated in 1950, reactivated in 1951, and then redesignated Aerospace rather than Air in 1968. Its mission was to provide air defense of the Continental United States (CONUS). It directly controlled all active measures, and was tasked to coordinate all passive means of air defense.