Editing Strategic Air Command (section)

{{Short description|1946–1992 US Air Force major command}}
{{For-multi|the film|Strategic Air Command (film)|the command from 2009|Air Force Global Strike Command}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Strategic Air Command
| image = SAC_Shield.svg | image_size = 200px
| caption = Shield of Strategic Air Command
| dates = 1947–1992: [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]]<br />{{nowrap|1946–1947: [[United States Army Air Forces|US Army Air Forces]]}}
| country = {{flagu|United States|size=23px}}
| branch = {{air force|United States|size=23px}}
| type = Major Command / Specified Command
| garrison = 9 November 1948: [[Offutt Air Force Base]], [[Nebraska]]<br />{{nowrap | 21 October 1946: [[Andrews Field]], Maryland}}<br />21 March 1946: [[Bolling Field]], District of Columbia
| role =
| size =
| command_structure =
| current_commander =
| notable_commanders = Gen [[Curtis LeMay]]
| ceremonial_chief =
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto = "Peace is Our Profession"
| colors =
| march = "Strategic Air Command March"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Clifton|date=2014-08-27|title=Strategic Air Command March|url= https://open.spotify.com/track/4r35EMAPRMPeJGxxZLenaz|access-date=2022-01-25|website=[[Spotify]]|language=en-US}}</ref>
| mascot =
| battles =
| anniversaries =
<!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol = [[File:SAC_Shield_OD.svg|200px]]
| identification_symbol_label = Shield (subdued)
}}

'''Strategic Air Command''' ('''SAC''') was a [[United States Department of Defense]] Specified Command and a [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the [[strategic bomber]] and [[intercontinental ballistic missile]] components of the United States military's [[strategic nuclear weapon|strategic nuclear forces]]<ref>{{cite book |title=A Dictionary of Aviation |first=David W. |last=Wragg |isbn=9780850451634 |edition=first |publisher=Osprey |year=1973 |page=232}}</ref> from 1946 to 1992. SAC was also responsible for strategic [[reconnaissance aircraft]]; airborne command posts; and most of the USAF's [[aerial refueling]] aircraft.

SAC primarily consisted of the [[Second Air Force]] (2AF), [[Eighth Air Force]] (8AF) and the [[Fifteenth Air Force]] (15AF), while SAC headquarters (HQ SAC) included Directorates for Operations & Plans, Intelligence, Command & Control, Maintenance, Training, Communications, and Personnel.  At a lower echelon, SAC headquarters divisions included Aircraft Engineering, Missile Concept,<ref>{{cite web |date=9 December 1997 |title=Alliant Techsystems Names Blalock to Head New Colorado Springs Field Marketing Office |work=ATK |url=http://www.atk.com/news-releases/alliant-techsystems-names-blalock-to-head-new-colorado-springs-field-marketing-office/ |format=news release |publisher=ATK.com |access-date=2013-09-08 |quote=Chief, Missile Concept Division, Headquarters, Strategic Air Command}}</ref> and Strategic Communications.

In 1992, as part of an overall post-Cold War reorganization of the U.S. Air Force, SAC was disestablished as both a Specified Command and as a [[MAJCOM]]. Its [[:Category:Personnel of Strategic Air Command|personnel]] and [[Strategic Air Command equipment|equipment]] redistributed among the [[Air Combat Command]] (ACC), [[Air Mobility Command]] (AMC), [[Pacific Air Forces]] (PACAF), [[United States Air Forces in Europe]] (USAFE), and [[Air Education and Training Command]] (AETC), while SAC's central headquarters complex at [[Offutt AFB]], Nebraska was concurrently transferred to the newly created [[United States Strategic Command]] (USSTRATCOM), which was established as a joint [[Unified Combatant Command]] to replace SAC's Specified Command role.

In 2009, SAC was reactivated and redesignated as the [[Air Force Global Strike Command]] (AFGSC). AFGSC eventually acquired all USAF bomber aircraft and the [[intercontinental ballistic missile]] force.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 July 2009 |title=Fact Sheet: Air Force Global Strike Command |url=http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15047 |format=news release |publisher=afhra.af.mil |access-date=2015-06-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718071848/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15047 |archive-date=18 July 2012 }}</ref>