Mission Statement: The 6th Air Refueling Wing delivers world-class air refueling and comprehensive installation support to promote global security, power projection, and humanitarian operations, executing Air Mobility Command’s mission with precision and excellence.
Vision: To be America’s premier air refueling wing, providing unmatched global reach through innovative, agile, and resilient Airmen.
Overview
Stationed at MacDill Air Force Base on the Interbay Peninsula in Tampa, Florida, the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6th ARW) is a vital component of Air Mobility Command (AMC), assigned to the Eighteenth Air Force. With a force of over 3,000 personnel organized into five groups, the wing operates 24 KC-135 Stratotankers to project air refueling power worldwide. As the host unit, it supports Headquarters U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and 51 mission partners, managing assets exceeding $3 billion. MacDill AFB, spanning 5,695 acres, employs over 20,000 personnel—7,353 active-duty, 8,553 civilians, and 22,900 dependents—bolstered by approximately 38,000 retirees in the region.
Lineage
• Established: 20 December 1950 as 6th Bombardment Wing, Medium.
• Activated: 2 January 1951.
• Redesignations:
• 6th Bombardment Wing, Heavy (16 June 1952)
• 6th Strategic Aerospace Wing (1 May 1962)
• 6th Strategic Wing (25 March 1967)
• 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (1 April 1988)
• 6th Air Base Wing (22 December 1993)
• 6th Air Refueling Wing (1 October 1996)
• 6th Air Mobility Wing (1 January 2001)
• 6th Air Refueling Wing (30 September 2019)
• Predecessor Unit: 6th Composite Group (1919–1937), later 6th Bombardment Group (1937–1952).
Assignments
• Eighth Air Force (1951–1963)
• Various Strategic Aerospace Divisions (1963–1992)
• Ninth Air Force (1994–1996)
• Twenty-First Air Force (1996–2003)
• Eighteenth Air Force (2003–present)
Stations
• France Field, Panama Canal Zone (1919–1943, predecessor unit)
• North Field, Tinian (1944–1948, predecessor unit)
• Walker AFB, New Mexico (2 January 1951–25 March 1967)
• Eielson AFB, Alaska (25 March 1967–1 September 1992)
• MacDill AFB, Florida (4 January 1994–present)
Operational Components
• 6th Operations Group: Plans and executes global air refueling and specialized missions using KC-135R aircraft to extend U.S. global power and reach.
• 6th Maintenance Group: Manages logistics for worldwide refueling and special missions, overseeing 700+ personnel, a $12 million annual budget, and $3 billion in aircraft and equipment.
• 6th Mission Support Group: Operates, sustains, protects, and defends the installation, delivering on-time mission support to Team MacDill.
• 6th Medical Group: Provides readiness-focused healthcare to prevent, heal, and deploy, delivering unparalleled care to warriors and families.
• 6th Force Support Squadron: Enhances quality of life and personnel support (part of Mission Support Group).
• Squadrons (Current and Historical):
• 6th Air Refueling Squadron
• 24th Bombardment/Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
• 39th and 40th Bombardment Squadrons
• 307th and 310th Air Refueling Squadrons
• 579th Strategic Missile Squadron
Aircraft
• Current: KC-135 Stratotanker (24 aircraft, 1996–present; designated KC-135R in operations)
• Future Transition: KC-46 Pegasus (infrastructure upgrades underway)
• Historical:
• Observation Aircraft (1919–1937, predecessor)
• B-17 Flying Fortress, B-26 Marauder (1941–1945, base training)
• B-29 Superfortress (1944–1952, predecessor; 1951–1952, wing)
• KB-29 (1951–1952)
• B-36 Peacemaker (1952–1957)
• B-52 Stratofortress (1957–1967)
• Atlas Missile (1962–1965)
• KC-135 Stratotanker (1958–1967, 1967–1992)
• RC-135 Rivet Joint (1967–1992)
• TC-135 (1985–1992)
• EC-135 (1997–2003)
• CT-43 Bobcat (1997–2001)
• C-37 Gulfstream (2001–2019)
Operations
The 6th ARW rapidly projects air refueling power globally, supporting U.S. and allied combat and support aircraft. Key highlights:
• Historical:
• Panama Canal Defense (1919–1943): Predecessor unit flew patrol missions.
• WWII (1941–1945): Trained B-17 and B-26 crews at MacDill; 6th Bombardment Group bombed Japan from Tinian.
• Cold War (1951–1992): Evolved from bombardment (B-36, B-52) to missile operations (Atlas) and reconnaissance (RC-135).
• Post-1994: Shifted to air refueling at MacDill, supporting Operations UNIFIED RESPONSE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN.
• Current: Refuels aircraft for USCENTCOM and USSOCOM missions, partners with the 927th ARW, and prepares for KC-46 integration.
Decorations
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 14 awards (1960–2019).
• Bestowed Honors (6th Operations Group, pre-1951):
• Distinguished Unit Citations: Tokyo, Japan (25 May 1945); Japanese Empire (9–19 July 1945).
• Campaign Streamers: WWII (Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific).
Emblem
• Description: Features a pirate emblem with a refueling boom, reflecting WWII heritage and current mission.
• Significance: Approved in 1924, updated in 1955 and 1980, reinstated in 1988.
Economic and Community Impact
• Workforce: Over 20,000 personnel (7,353 active-duty, 8,553 civilians, 22,900 dependents), plus 38,000 retirees nearby.
• Economic Impact: Generated $8.5 billion and 65,291 jobs in Hillsborough County (2022 data).
• Community Role: Hosts Tampa Bay AirFest and supports Tampa Bay communities.
Commander
• Current Commander (as of August 2024): Colonel Edward V. Szczepanik
• Background: Commissioned in 2003, a command pilot with over 3,260 flight hours (677 combat hours), primarily in the C-17A. Previously Deputy Commander, 6th ARW (2023–2024), with joint experience as Aide-de-Camp to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Senior Plans Advisor to the Secretary of Defense.
• Leadership Focus: Enhancing readiness, supporting joint partners, and overseeing KC-46 transition.
Major Units at MacDill AFB
• 6th ARW: Host unit with over 3,000 personnel across five groups.
• 927th ARW: Air Force Reserve unit augmenting refueling capacity.
• USCENTCOM: Coordinates operations across 21 nations.
• USSOCOM: Deploys Special Operations Forces globally since 1987.
• JCSE: Provides scalable communications support under USTRANSCOM.
Looking Ahead
The 6th ARW is preparing for the KC-46 Pegasus, with infrastructure upgrades ensuring future readiness. Leveraging MacDill’s strategic location, the wing continues to support global operations with unmatched air refueling and installation support.
Contact Information
• Address: 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs, 8208 Hangar Loop Drive, MacDill AFB, FL 33621
• Phone: (813) 828-2217
• Website: www.macdill.af.mil
(Current as of April 2025)