U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Derek France, takes command of the Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), during a change of command ceremony at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, April 18, 2024. As the Combined Force Air Component Commander for CENTCOM, France is responsible for developing contingency plans and conducting air operations in a 21-nation area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia. AFCENT, in concert with coalition, joint, and interagency partners, delivers decisive air, space and cyberspace capabilities for CENTCOM, allied nations, and the U.S.
