The War Department established the Air War College (AWC) in 1946 at then Maxwell Field, Alabama, and the college has operated continuously since then except for a six-month period during the Korean conflict. To accomplish the AWC mission, students demonstrate mastery of dual challenges-academic enhancement and professional development. To meet these challenges, the college develops the knowledge, skills, and attitudes in its students that are significant to the profession of arms with emphasis on air and space power and its application in joint and multinational warfighting. Mission -- Educate senior military and civilian teammates to serve as critical and strategic thinkers able to serve as national security senior leaders. Vision -- The foremost college for air, space, and cyberspace education and thought – preparing the world’s best joint senior leaders. Key Tasks -- Prepare officers to lead at the strategic level across the range of military operations, in joint, interagency, and multinational environments. Develop cross-domain mastery of air, space, and cyberspace domains and their strategic contributions to national security. Advance innovative thought on national security issues.