Air Command and Staff College The Air Command and Staff College ( ACSC ) is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery , Alabama and is the United States Air Force ' s intermediate professional military education ( PME ) school . It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U . S . military services in grade O - 4 or those selected for O - 4 ( i . e . , USAF / U . S . Army / USMC Major s and USN / USCG Lieutenant Commander s , as well as Major - selectees and USN / USCG Lieutenant Commander - selectees ) , equivalent rank international military officers , and US civil servants of at least GS - 12 / GM - 12 level , to assume positions of higher responsibility within the military and other government arenas . Senior Members of the Civil Air Patrol ( U . S . Air Force Auxiliary ) in the rank of Major are also able to attend ACSC via " distance learning , " an option often exercised by officers in the U . S . military services . ACSC is geared toward teaching the skills necessary for air and space operations in support of a joint campaign , as well as leadership and command at the USAF squadron level or its equivalent in other services . Mission . Prepare warriors to lead air , space and cyberspace forces in joint / combined operations Organization . ACSC has three deans : They provide academic leadership to the school ' s faculty and student body . The dean of education and curriculum , assisted by the vice dean for academic affairs and vice dean for operations , coordinates the integration of the final curriculum content and directs the planning and implementation of the academic programs . The dean of distance learning is responsible for planning , organizing , and delivering the non - resident program of instruction through the departments of Curriculum and Operations . The dean of services and support leads the efforts of cross - cutting organizations including personnel , fitness , technology , facilities , and security . The commander and staff of the 21st Student Squadron are responsible for the health , morale , and welfare of 600 resident students and their families . Curriculum . The present 10 - month curriculum focuses on expanding understanding of air and space power and on the growth of mid - career officers . It is meant to : There are currently five curriculum departments at the ACSC : Facilities . ACSC is located in Spaatz Hall on Chennault Circle at Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama . The building contains a 600 - seat auditorium for lectures by distinguished speakers , a smaller 135 - seat auditorium for special presentations , plus a variety of conference rooms , staff and administrative offices , and lounge areas . Seminar sessions are held in specially designed rooms featuring closed - circuit television , an array of multimedia equipment , and student access to a school - wide computer network and the Internet . Students are issued more than 80 books to expand their professional capabilities and a personal laptop computer to use to keep track of the academic schedules , on - line reading assignments , and for use in examinations throughout the academic year . History . The Air Command & Staff College traces its roots to the Air Corps Tactical School ( ACTS ) located at Langley Field , Virginia , from 1926 to 1931 , and Maxwell Field from 1931 to 1942 . After World War II , as the independent Air Force was formed in 1947 , grew , and developed , the requirements and expectations of the school evolved to fulfill the service ' s educational needs . Major Jeanne M . Holm , in 1952 , became the first woman to attend the Air Command and Staff School . She was the first female USAF officer to achieve the rank of Brigadier General and later Major General . In 1962 , the school became known by its current name , Air Command and Staff College . During academic year 1994 , the school undertook the most significant change to its educational program since its inception . The school transitioned from a lecture - based to a seminar - centered , active environment with an integrated curriculum geared to problem solving across the continuum from peace to war . In academic year 1999 , the school began efforts to align its curriculum under the Air University commander ' s Strategic Guidance for the Continuum of Education . That program now functions as a portion of a comprehensive and integrated career - long professional military education program .