Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency

Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency
Shield of the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency
Active20 October 1948 to 29 September 2014
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeField Operating Agency
RoleIntelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance
Part ofUnited States Air Force
Garrison/HQLackland Air Force Base, Texas
Motto(s)Freedom Through Vigilance
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Major General John N.T. "Jack" Shanahan (Final Commander)[1]

The Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency (Air Force ISR Agency or AFISRA) was until 29 September 2014 a field operating agency of the United States Air Force headquartered at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. On that date it was redesignated Twenty-Fifth Air Force and aligned as a numbered air force (NAF) of the Air Combat Command.[2]

Its primary mission was to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) products, applications, capabilities and resources, to include cyber and geospatial forces and expertise. Additionally, it was the service cryptologic component (SCC) responsible to the National Security Agency and Central Security Service for Air Force cryptographic activities.[3]

Originally called the United States Air Force Security Service, the Air Force ISR Agency was activated on 20 October 1948, at Arlington Hall, Washington, D.C., with a mission of cryptology and communications security.[4]

AFISRA was last commanded by Major General John Shanahan.[5] Its Command Chief Master Sergeant was Chief Master Sergeant Arleen Heath.[6] Both continued in their positions upon the creation of 25 AF.

  1. ^ Amann, Wayne (7 June 2013). "Shanahan takes command of AFISRA". Air Force ISR Agency Public Affairs (afisr.af.mil). Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  2. ^ McCullough, Amy, "ISR Agency Becomes 25th Air Force", Air Force Magazine: Journal of the Air Force Association, November 2014, Volume 97 No. 11, p. 22
  3. ^ "Factsheets: Air Force ISR Agency". 12 February 2014. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  4. ^ Myers, Harold; Marshall, Gabriel (2009), USAFSS to AF ISR Agency, 1948–2009: A Brief History of the AF ISR Agency and its Predecessor Organizations (PDF) (5th ed.), San Antonio, Texas: AF ISR Agency History Office, archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2014, retrieved 20 July 2014
  5. ^ "Biographies: Maj. Gen. John N.T. "Jack" Shanahan". June 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Biographies: Chief Master Sergeant Arleen K. Heath". July 2012. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.