The center will leverage existing theater air dominance forces and air-to-air nodes of expertise and use these as a springboard to centralize and sharpen the theater's focus on joint and combined air dominance, said Air Force Lt. Col. David Slade, the center's commander.

"It also allows us to strengthen allied, Partnership for Peace, and coalition air dominance understanding, as well as lead to more effective U.S. and NATO theater air dominance operations," Slade said.

The 48th Fighter Wing serves as the new center's host unit and will provide the support required for execution of the new mission.

The center will demonstrate practical application of air dominance concepts to include alert posturing, force generation, command and control, identification and kill chain effects assessment, according to the USAFE programming plan for the new organization.

"Through enhanced teamwork, advanced academics, doctrine development, tactical concepts crosstalk and in-flight training, the center will ensure our warfighters' continued dominance of air and space," said Air Force Gen. Robert "Doc" Foglesong, USAFE commander.

The center also serves as U.S. European Command's focal point to develop joint and combined air dominance requirements, operational doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures across EUCOM's joint and combined forces and areas of responsibility.

"The center will leverage existing theater air dominance forces and air-to-air nodes of expertise and use these as a springboard to centralize and sharpen the theater's focus on joint and combined air dominance," Slade said.

To many, air dominance means fighter aircraft engaging and destroying enemy air forces, but air dominance may also be accomplished by reducing or eliminating the enemy's access to technology, such as their GPS receivers or radio frequencies through space-based assets, said Air Force Maj. Howard Redd, the center's director or operations.

In addition to doctrine and plans development, the center will also conduct academic training and host invitational flying meets, both at RAF Lakenheath and other locations across the European theater.

"What we are developing is a school where students from the United States, England and other NATO and Partnership for Peace countries will be taught how to gain and maintain control of the aerial battlespace," Redd said.

The major said, by teaching air dominance fundamentals, integrating with U.S. and coalition air defenses and learning about joint command and control capabilities and assets, the center will give students a broad base of knowledge to take back to their respective countries.

"This will not only help integrate NATO air forces but help integrate service-specific air forces with Army, Navy, space and even special operations forces," Redd said.

"We look forward to having instructors from our experienced NATO member countries as a way of developing new ideas through daily conversations and related experiences," he added. "And a few times a year we'll be taking the class on the road and go to some countries that may not have the ability to get out to England. This allows us to see first-hand how other countries operate, to see their strengths and any limitations."

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