Commander , Naval Air Force U . S . Atlantic Fleet Commander , Naval Air Force , U . S . Atlantic Fleet ( aka COMNAVAIRLANT , AIRLANT , CNAL ) is the aviation Type Commander ( TYCOM ) for the United States Atlantic Fleet naval aviation units . Type Commanders are in administrative control ( ADCON ) , and in some cases operational control ( OPCON ) of certain types of assets ( ships , submarines , aircraft , and fleet marines ) assigned to the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets . AIRLANT is responsible for the material readiness , administration , training , and inspection of units / squadrons under their command , and for providing operationally ready air squadrons and aircraft carriers to the fleet . COMNAVAIRLANT is headquartered at NAS Norfolk . The staff is made up of approximately 515 officer , enlisted , civilian and contractor personnel . Mission . " Support COMLANTFLT and other commanders by providing combat ready / sustainable naval air forces , trained and equipped in an environment which emphasizes safety , interoperability and efficient resource management . " History . Naval Air Force , US Atlantic Fleet was established on 1 January 1943 , at NAS Norfolk , Virginia . The command was initially called Air Force , Atlantic Fleet and replaced three older organizations : Commander Carriers , Atlantic Fleet ; Carrier Replacement Squadron , Atlantic Fleet ; and Fleet Air Wings , Atlantic . AIRLANT ' s mission was to oversee logistics , maintenance and training of east coast aviation units , and to direct all World War II Atlantic operations not assigned to specific task forces . The combat mission consisted primarily of combating German U - boat s , which were wreaking havoc on U . S . shipping support for the war effort in Europe . AIRLANT also contributed heavily to war in the Pacific by training Pacific Fleet units and deploying east coast units to the Pacific . In 1944 AIRLANT deployed 16 carriers , 20 carrier air groups , 67 carrier - based squadrons , 21 patrol squadrons and 18 aviation units to the Pacific . On 30 July 1957 , the command added " Naval " to its title . An important subordinate command for a long period was Commander , Fleet Air Keflavik , at what was Naval Air Station Keflavik , Iceland . Naval aviation has always played a large role in the operations at Keflavik , especially with regard to the enormous build - up of the Soviet Navy . Deployment of patrol squadron detachments , and later entire squadrons , started as early as 1951 , with the P - 2 " Neptune " maritime patrol aircraft succeeded by the Lockheed P - 3 " Orion " in the mid - 1960s . In 1955 , Barrier Force , Atlantic had been established in Argentia , Newfoundland , flying radar early - warning missions using the WV - 2 ( EC - 121 Warning Star aircraft in the North Atlantic from 1957 . These aircraft made frequent deployments to Keflavik . On July 1 , 1961 , Commander Barrier Force , Atlantic moved from Argentia to Keflavik . The duties of Commander , Iceland Defense Force were assumed by the rear admiral commanding Barrier Force Atlantic . In October 2001 , the Chief of Naval Operations placed Type Commanders in a " Lead - Follow " arrangement . Under this arrangement , COMNAVAIRPAC ( AIRLANT ' s west coast counterpart ) became TYCOM for all Naval Aviation , and assumed the additional title of Commander , Naval Air Forces ( COMNAVAIRFOR ) . At that time , command of AIRLANT went from a 3 - star / Vice Admiral to a 2 - star Rear Admiral . Subordinate Commands . Naval Air Force , U . S . Atlantic Fleet is composed of more than 40 , 000 men and women who maintain and operate the aircraft carriers , aircraft squadrons and aircraft of the Atlantic Fleet . It provides combat - ready air forces to fleet commanders operating around the globe . Carrier Strike Groups . There are six Carrier Strike Group commanders who , although not under operational control of COMNAVAIRLANT , work very closely with the staff . CSG commanders are operationally responsible for the carrier , the embarked airwing and the cruisers that make up the battle group . Aircraft Carriers . The nucleus of the surface battle group is the aircraft carrier . In the Atlantic Fleet , COMNAVAIRLANT has five carriers assigned to carry out the mission of COMLANTFLT and other commanders . One or two of these carriers are usually deployed with the U . S . Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea or with the U . S . Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf in support of U . S . Central Command . When not deployed or undergoing periodic maintenance / overhaul , or refresher training , these ships operate with U . S . Second Fleet in the Western Atlantic or U . S . Fourth Fleet in the Caribbean . Carrier air wings . The carrier air wing commander is responsible for a number of squadrons whose missions include attack , fighter , patrol , reconnaissance , anti - submarine warfare , electronic warfare and logistic support . Type Wings . Type wing commanders are individually responsible for major categories of aircraft squadrons .