Maxwell Air Force Base

Maxwell Air Force Base, with its rich aviation heritage deeply rooted in Montgomery, Alabama, stands as the intellectual and leadership center of the U.S. Air Force. As the headquarters for Air University (AU), an entity of Air Education and Training Command (AETC), Maxwell’s primary mission is to educate and develop Airmen and Guardians to excel in a complex global environment. The base is home to the full continuum of professional military education (PME), shaping leaders from their earliest commissioning through senior command.

The host unit, the 42nd Air Base Wing, provides essential installation support and services for Air University and a diverse array of tenant units at both Maxwell AFB and its separate Gunter Annex across town. Maxwell’s hallowed grounds host prestigious institutions like the Air War College, for senior leaders; the Air Command and Staff College, for mid-career officers; and Squadron Officer School, for company-grade officers. The Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education, also headquartered here, oversees enlisted PME across the Air Force.

This academic environment draws thousands of students from all U.S. military services, federal agencies, and numerous international partner nations each year, creating a unique and diverse professional atmosphere. While education is its primary focus, Maxwell is also home to the Air Force Reserve Command’s 908th Airlift Wing, which provides critical tactical airlift capabilities.

Personnel and families stationed at Maxwell AFB are part of a community steeped in history, both in terms of aviation and its location in a city central to the American Civil Rights Movement. The base enjoys a strong partnership with the city of Montgomery, the state capital of Alabama. Maxwell’s enduring mission ensures that the nation’s air and space leaders are prepared for the strategic challenges of today and tomorrow.