Community College of The Air Force - History

History

In the early 1970s, the Air Force decided to attempt to gain accreditation and recognition for Air Force training programs. Representatives of the Air Training Command (ATC), Air University, and the United States Air Force Academy held numerous conferences in 1971 to discuss increased training for Air Force non-commissioned officers (NCOs). These conferences, in turn, recommended the foundation of an Air Force community college. On November 9, 1971, Gen John D. Ryan, Air Force Chief of Staff, approved the establishment of the Community College of the Air Force. The Secretary of the Air Force approved the plan January 25, 1972, and the college was officially established on April 1, 1972, at Randolph AFB, TX.

Until the mid-1970s, the CCAF offered only certificate programs. It became apparent that CCAF standards exceeded the minimum requirements of associate degree programs in civilian community colleges. Therefore, in 1975 the Air Force sought degree-granting authority for the college from Congress. President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-361 on July 14, 1976 authorizing the AETC commander to confer the associate degree.

Following an evaluation in October 1976, the Commissioner of Education certified degree-granting authority in January 1977. The college awarded its first AAS degree in April 1977.

When the Commission on Occupational Education Institution charter was limited in 1975 to non degree-granting institutions, the CCAF began seeking accreditation from the SACS Commission on Colleges. The Commission on Colleges accredited the CCAF on December 12, 1980. In 2004, Air University became accredited by the SACS Commission on Colleges to award associate and master’s degrees. CCAF now shares in Air University’s regional accreditation. CCAF was separately accredited by SACS from 1980-2004.

Currently the CCAF is only open to airmen, but Congressman Sestak added language to the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act to open admission to all branches.