About Us

The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC) established on March 31, 2006, is the nuclear-focused center within Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) synchronizing all aspects of nuclear materiel management on behalf of the AFMC commander and in direct support of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).

Established on March 31, 2006, and headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, the center has more than 2,400 military and civilian personnel assigned at 20 locations worldwide. It consists of four major execution directorates: Air Delivered Capabilities; Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Systems; Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) Integration; and Nuclear Technology and Integration. It also has several functional directorates, and the AFNWC Commander is dual-hatted as the Air Force Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Nuclear Air Delivered.

Shield AFNWC Mission:
Deliver nuclear capabilities warfighters use every day to deter and assure.

AFNWC Vision:
Ensuring our nation's most powerful weapon systems are never doubted, always feared.

Motto:
"Never Doubted, Always Feared"

Strategic Goals:

Time-certain delivery of safe, secure, and effective capability to the warfighter.
- Objective #1 – Improve readiness of currently-fielded systems in response to warfighter needs.
- Objective #2 – Modernize, recapitalize, and evolve our nuclear deterrent capability to meet challenges of a dynamic threat environment and increasing the pace of technological change.
Engrain a nuclear ethos that is both innovative and disciplined.
- Objective #1 – Recruit, educate, train, develop, and retain nuclear professionals.
- Objective #2 – Empower the workforce to evaluate and accept risk to improve mission accomplishment.

Major Organizations

Air Delivered Capabilities Directorate
This directorate is principally located at Kirtland AFB, with operating locations at Eglin AFB, Florida; Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; Ramstein AB, Germany; Robins AFB, Georgia; Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The directorate is comprised of active-duty military and federal civilians. It also has positions for deputy program managers and product support managers for nuclear matters embedded in program offices for the B-2/B-21, B-52, F-15, F-16, F-35, automatic test systems, and support equipment. The directorate is responsible for delivering, sustaining and supporting air-delivered nuclear weapon systems for our warfighters to secure the future of our nation and our allies every day. Programs managed by the directorate include: B61-12 Life Extension Program, Long Range Stand-Off Weapon, W80-4 Life Extension Program, overseas Weapon Storage and Security System, Secure Transportable Maintenance System, Protective Aircraft Shelter Interior Intrusion Detection System, and Air-Launched Cruise Missile (AGM-86B/C/D) sustainment.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Directorate
This directorate is principally located at Hill AFB, Utah, with operating locations at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Minot AFB, North Dakota; Vandenberg Space Force Base, California; and Washington D.C. The directorate has approximately 1,000 civilian and military personnel. It is responsible for the land-based leg of the nuclear triad, which includes the modernization and sustainment of intercontinental ballistic missiles and associated weapon system command and control, flight and launch systems, missile silos, and other ground infrastructure. The directorate is responsible for providing the most responsive capability and backbone of nuclear deterrence for Air Force Global Strike Command through two program offices: LGM-30G Minuteman III and LGM-35A Sentinel. In addition, its director is dual-hatted as the Air Force PEO for ICBMs.

Nuclear Command, Control and Communications Integration Directorate
This directorate is principally located at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, and Kirtland AFB. It also has personnel embedded at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; Los Angeles AFB, California; Offut AFB, Nebraska; Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado; Hill AFB; Robins AFB; Tinker AFB; and Wright-Patterson AFB. It is responsible for integrating the NC3 Weapon System (AN/USQ.225) across the Air Force. The directorate advises AFGSC on the NC3 Weapon System's technical architecture and informs key decisions regarding investment and modernization. The directorate is also responsible for the weapon system’s configuration management, system test, system verification, and system certification. In addition, its director is dual-hatted as the Air Force integrating PEO for NC3.

Nuclear Technology and Integration Directorate
This directorate is located at Kirtland AFB. The directorate is responsible for providing intelligence support to AFNWC, analyzing the full spectrum of weapons effects to support acquisition programs and inform tactics and procedures, and assessing current and future nuclear systems to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities. The directorate is also responsible for managing the Air Force's Nuclear Certification Program and leading the capability development initiatives for all pre-Milestone A/B activities within the center.