June 4, 2009 -- The recently created Global Strike Command is slated for full operational capability by September 2010, according to the head of the 8th Air Force.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter this week gave lawmakers a time line for the establishment of Global Strike Command to be headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, LA.
Barksdale -- home to the 8th Air Force and the 2nd Bomb Wing -- was chosen as the new command's headquarters over five other Air Force bases. The selection was based on the "installation's ability to provide significant nuclear-mission synergy," according to an April 2 service statement.
The base is undergoing an environmental impact assessment scheduled for completion by June 27, Carpenter told the Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee yesterday.
"Assuming that all comes out as we hope, then it will be announced as the final location," Carpenter said.
The Air Force officially stood up the command in January. Brig. Gen. James Kowalski -- a combat bomber pilot with extensive time in the B-52 and B-1B -- is the organization's vice commander. Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz was nominated in April to head the command.
Bolling Air Force Base in Washington has been the command's temporary home. Air Combat Command and Air Force Space Command have been housing supporting detachments.
Once the environmental assessment at Barksdale is complete, "then you'll start seeing people and resources being moved there," Carpenter said yesterday. Vice Commander Kowalski is scheduled to arrive around the first week of July, followed by Klotz in early August, Carpenter added.
"We're going to have . . . an activation of the command I believe [on] the 7th of August right now tentatively," he said, with initial operational capability scheduled for September.
In December, the Air Force's intercontinental ballistic missile wings will transfer from Air Force Space Command to Global Strike Command. In February 2010, the nuclear bomber units will move from Air Combat Command into Global Strike Command, according to Carpenter. -- John Liang