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The Air Force Public Affairs Agency is a field operating agency that reports directly to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Public Affairs at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.  The AFPAA headquarters is comprised of two directorates, the Directorates of Staff and Operations.  Additionally, AFPAA provides operational control over one combat camera squadron and two audiovisual squadrons.  AFPAA also provides administrative control over five SAF/PA operating locations.  The Directorate of Staff includes financial management, Internet Technology support, knowledge operations, logistics, and personnel and training.  The Directorate of Operations oversees Air & Space Forces Intellectual Property Management, Air Force Aerial Photography Management, Air Force Public Web Management, and Air Force Visual Information Management programs.  Additionally, AFPAA serves as the Functional Area Manager for all Air Force Combat Camera (COMCAM) forces.

The agency oversees the 1st Combat Camera Squadron (CTCS), which is located at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina.  COMCAM provides senior U.S. government officials with a directed imagery capability in support of strategic, operational and planning requirements during wartime operations, worldwide crises, contingencies, joint exercises and humanitarian operations.  The 1st CTCS also provides administrative and logistical support to a subordinate operating location at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

The agency provides functional oversight to a second COMCAM squadron, the 4th CTCS, the only COMCAM unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, when activated under Title 10 authority.  The 4th CTCS is co-located with 1st CTCS at Joint Base Charleston as a Classic Associate Unit.

The agency also oversees two audiovisual squadrons -- the 2nd Audiovisual Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah and the 3rd Audiovisual Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.  The audiovisual squadrons primarily provide video productions to senior Department of Defense and Air Force leaders, with cinematic-level video production products.

AFPAA provides the following capabilities to Department of the Air Force customers:

  • aerial imagery acquisition from diverse platforms
  • live event streaming, recording and production
  • cinematic-quality audiovisual productions
  • low-light/no-light imagery acquisition
  • imagery transmission from austere/remote location
  • small unmanned aerial system (SUAS) imagery acquisition and support

Potential DAF customers can contact our Plans and Programs Division at (210) 652-6037, email afpaa.aox@us.af.mil or complete and submit an AFPAA Support Request form.

The agency provides administrative and logistical support to five field offices across the United States.  These include a command information branch at the Pentagon; the public affairs assignment managers at the Air Force Personnel Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas; the training content managers at the Defense Information School at Ft Meade, Maryland; the Air Force Media Engagement Office in New York City; and the Air Force Entertainment Liaison Office in Los Angeles.

Combined, all AFPAA offices and units encompass representatives from all specialties within the public affairs career field, and are charged with being Air Force lead agents for a multitude of public affairs responsibilities including:  providing imagery documentation of Air Force war-fighter and humanitarian relief missions; audiovisual production support; the public affairs visual information equipment purchasing program; the public web program; the branding and trademark licensing program, and serving as the Air Force’s primary liaison to both the Defense Media Activity's Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System and the American Forces Public Information Management System.  Additionally, the agency serves as the sole force provider for COMCAM forces in the Air Force.

AFPAA traces its roots to June 1, 1978, with the activation of the Air Force Service Information and News Center. The center was redesignated as the Air Force News Center April 1, 1990 and became a field operating agency February 5, 1991. It was redesignated to the Air Force News Agency August 1, 1991 before its redesignation to the Air Force Public Affairs Agency October 1, 2008. The agency achieved full operational capability June 3, 2013.