First of all, I would like to tell you about NATO’S Allied Air Command. On June 28, 1974, the first NATO air headquarters – Allied Air Forces Central Europe or AAFCE – was established at Ramstein Air Base with staff from Belgium, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. Its task was to provide central direction and control for the air forces in the European Central Region through the co-ordination of the headquarters of Second Allied Tactical Air Force based at Rheindahlen and Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force based at Heidelberg. 

During the early 1990s, a major reorganization of the NATO command and control structure was initiated. Given the decreasing numbers of Allied aircraft in Europe, a downsizing of Central Region Air Force headquarters occurred during 1993; AAFCE was expanded to absorb their functions. On July 1, 1993, the new AIRCENT headquarters was officially formed.