Air War College The Air War College is the senior professional military education school of the US Air Force . A part of the United States Air Force ' s Air University , it emphasizes the employment of air , space , and cyberspace in joint operations . Headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery , Alabama , Its higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command ( AETC ) at Randolph Air Force Base , San Antonio , Texas . It is one of six War Colleges within the Department of Defense ' s Joint Professional Military Education ( JPME ) Phase II Education Program . History . The Air War College was founded in 1946 by the United States War Department ( now the Department of Defense ) at what was then Maxwell Field . The college has operated continuously since its founding except for a period of six months during the Korean War . It operates alongside the Army War College , Naval War College , Marine Corps War College , National Defense University , and Industrial College of the Armed Forces within the Department of Defense ' s Joint Professional Military Education ( JPME ) Phase II Education Program . Professional Military Education . The Air War College ( AWC ) curriculum has been certified as JPME Phase II by the Joint Chiefs of Staff . According to the most recent posting on the official Air War College webpage " The AWC resident program class membership includes senior officers [ lieutenant colonel or USN / USCG commander ( O - 5 ) and colonel or USN / USCG captain ( O - 6 ) level ] from each US military service , civilian employees of federal government agencies at grade GS - 14 / GM - 14 or GS - 15 / GM - 15 , and equivalent rank military officers from the international community of nations . " Lieutenant Colonels and above of the Civil Air Patrol / U . S . Air Force Auxiliary are eligible to attend Air War College via " distance learning , " which is also an option exercised by many senior U . S . military officers . The AWC resident program consists of ten ( 10 ) months of graduate level courses for a total of 36 credit hours . Graduates receive a Master of Strategic Studies consisting of 4 credit hours in electives , 5 credit hours in research , 3 credit hours in Joint Strategic Leadership , 3 credit hours in National Security Decision Making , 5 credit hours in Foundations of Strategy , 6 credit hours in Warfighting , 4 credit hours in Regional and Cultural Studies , 3 credit hours in Global Security , and 3 credit hours from the capstone Global Challenge Wargame . The AWC Website curriculum page at http : / / www . au . af . mil / au / awc / curriculum . htm contains details on admission , graduation requirements , and descriptions of core and elective courses . Course description . The Air War College is the senior professional military education school of the US Air Force . It emphasizes the development of joint knowledges , skills and attributes required of all Air Force , Sister Service , and international senior officers as well as Department of Defense and other National Security civilians , with special focus on their application to large organization and institutional leadership responsibilities . The resident course is ten months long . The school also offers a non - resident program that is typically completed in 20 months or less . The Air War College ' s Mission is to : " prepare students to lead in a joint , interagency and multinational environment at the strategic level across the range of military operations ; to develop cross - domain mastery of joint air , space , and cyberspace power and its strategic contributions to national security ; and to advance innovative thought on National Security , Department of Defense and Air Forces issues . " The AWC curriculum focuses on five learning areas of emphasis : Learning Area 1 : Profession of Arms Emphasis . Graduates are capable of leading in a joint environment at the strategic level across the range of military operations . Learning Area 2 : Warfare Studies Emphasis . Graduates make sound judgments on the cross - domain use of joint air , space and cyberspace power to maintain national security . Learning Area 3 : Leadership Studies Emphasis . Graduates are prepared to exercise transformational leadership at group / wing command and above levels in service , joint , and coalition settings . Learning Area 4 : International Security Studies Emphasis . Graduates are equipped to advance innovative thought on national security , Department of Defense and Air Force issues . Learning Area 5 : Communication Studies Emphasis . Graduates can communicate complex information in a clear , concise and logical manner in both written and oral formats . The umbrella organization , Air University , is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools , and is authorized to grant the following degrees : Master of Strategic Studies – offered by Air War College Master of Military Operational Art and Science – offered by the Air Command and Staff College Master of Aerospace Studies – offered by the School of Advanced Airpower Studies Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering – offered by the U . S . Air Force Test Pilot School Associate in Applied Science – offered by the Community College of the Air Force with majors in 68 areas