HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Hundreds gathered at the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park, June 6, 2025 for a ceremony celebrating Air Force Special Operation Command’s 35th anniversary.
The ceremony commemorated AFSOC’s history, the proud legacy of its Air Commandos, and featured an aerial demonstration for those in attendance.
Distinguished guests in attendance included five former AFSOC commanders, four former AFSOC deputy commanders, and five former AFSOC command chiefs. We also welcomed 17 general officers from across the enterprise and 12 local civic leaders who help support the base community.
During his ceremony remarks, Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, AFSOC commander, emphasized that AFSOC's strength lies in its people.
“This anniversary provides us with an opportunity to honor our fellow Air Commandos who have served, sacrificed, and excelled within our ranks,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, commander of AFSOC. “They are the heart and soul of AFSOC.”
During the ceremony, each era of AFSOC’s missions were highlighted, from the early days of Operation Just Cause and Desert Storm to the long campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the current focus on global competition. Veterans in attendance from each era were recognized for their invaluable contributions to the command.
“This legacy, honed by AFSOC’s past leaders, laid the groundwork for innovation and adaptation,” said Conley. “Their vision for a specialized airpower component, capable of meeting evolving threats, has directly shaped the aircraft we field today.”
AFSOC’s aerial advantage was on full display during a ceremonial flyover which included C-146A Wolfhound, U-28A Draco, MC-12 Liberty, OA-1K Skyraider II, CV-22 Osprey, MC-130J Commando II, and AC-130J Ghostrider.
Another prominent theme of the ceremony was AFSOC’s enduring spirit of adaption, leading to the modernized technology and agile force employment the command leverages today.
“AFSOC activated with just over 5,000 personnel, roughly one percent of the Air Force,” said Conley. “Today, we are a combat proven force of over 20,000 Air Commandos, operating in a world far more complex and challenging than most could have imagined in 1990. Air Commandos have provided our Nation with outsized combat capability relative to our size.”
Of course, the AFSOC community could not reflect on the past without taking time to remember those who are no longer with us. During the ceremony, the families of fallen Air Commandos were honored, acknowledging their strength and resilience while carrying on the legacy of their loved ones.
“Let us honor the legacy of those who came before us and continue to uphold the values that define the Air Commando spirit,” said Conley. The path forward will be demanding, but AFSOC's commitment remains crystal clear.”
For 35 years, AFSOC has consistently pushed the boundaries to ensure its operators remain at the forefront of unconventional warfare. The command will look ahead, adapting to what the Nation needs, and innovating to meet emerging threats, confident that its best days lay ahead.