You know the U.S. Air Force is the mightiest in the world. It is admired and respected by friend and foe alike.
But did you know it takes thousands of civilians to keep the Air Force powerful and effective? We are the 170,000 civilians who do just that.
Working shoulder to shoulder with the men and women in uniform, we are a force to be reckoned with—keeping the Air Force ready for action, ready for anything.
We are from all backgrounds and all walks of life. We serve with passion and dedication. We invest our energy and skills to support the Air Force mission in air, space, and cyberspace. From routine to rocket science and everything in between, our contributions as civilians are vital.
We also contribute to the well-being of every American in remarkable and even life-changing ways. We’re the team who developed and maintains GPS, the Global Positioning System that has revolutionized the way we live and communicate.
We’re on the cutting edge of innovation and discovery, managing some of the finest and most prestigious research facilities and laboratories.
All in the service of keeping America safe and secure.
Communications satellite
A Pratt and Whitney F135 engine undergoes altitude testing at the Arnold Engineering Development Center. It is one of two engines slated to power the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. (AEDC courtesy photo)
The flexibility of super-thin silicon transistors, such as the one pictured, could lead to electronics attached to unevenly shaped objects like airplane bodies or engines. Air Force Office of Scientific Research officials here recently funded research for these fast, bendable electronics. (Courtesy photo)
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the GPS IIF-12 mission lifted off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL, Feb. 5, 2016. (Courtesy photo/United Launch Alliance)
The last GPS IIF satellite is encapsulated inside a payload fairing at a processing facility before it was launched aboard an Atlas V rocket Feb 5, 2016, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL.
