The Air Traffic Services Command provides airspace and air traffic services support and expertise to Army warfighters, major commands and installations worldwide. ATSCOM ensures safety of operations, standardization, and controller/unit certification of Army air traffic control. It develops and provides functional area support and expertise to meet Army airspace and ATS requirements in joint combined environments, and national and international airspace.
ATSCOM provides ATS assistance to support major combat operations; deploys ATS subject matter experts to support warfighters, MACOMs and installations worldwide; deploys ATS maintenance response teams to major combat operations; executes the ATS quality assurance program for warfighters, MACOMs and installations worldwide; executes training and readiness oversight of ATS reserve component units; and executes support and sustainment operations of all air traffic systems and subsystems worldwide.
Leadership
Commander, U.S. Army Air Traffic Services Command
COL Richard A. Polen from Leavenworth, Kansas enlisted in the military as an infantryman serving with the 3d Battalion, 504th Infantry Regiment as a squad leader where he deployed to Haiti in support of the United States Support Group Haiti. He was selected for the Green to Gold officer commissioning program and graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Central Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology.... READ MORE
Command Sgt. Major, U.S. Army Air Traffic Services Command
Command Sgt. Maj. Nicholas Burney
Command Sgt. Maj. Nicholas Burney hails from Osceola, Missouri and enlisted in the United States Army in September 1998. He attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He then graduated from Fort Eustis, Virginia as a 67R, AH-64 Apache Maintainer.
CSM Burney has served proudly for the past 26 years. His assignments include: 1-227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cav Brigade, Fort Cavazos, Texas; 1-2 Aviation Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade... READ MORE
Unit History
The genesis of the Air Traffic Services Command can be traced back to a 1956 Continental Army Command concept to develop, equip, field and train an air traffic control organization. As a result, the Army Aviation Operation Detachment was created to assist Army Aviation elements in combat and communications zones to enable Aviation units to operate at night and adverse weather conditions. During the Vietnam War, air traffic controllers proved their effectiveness by assisting the heretofore-small Aviation force, as war fighting techniques in Aviation evolved.
In 1986, ATS was reassigned to the newly established Aviation Branch and the USAATCA was moved from Fort Huachuca, Ariz., to Fort Rucker, Ala. In 1995, the Aviation Branch Functional Area Analysis identified operational, training and maintenance challenges across the ATS mission area. As a result, Gen. Eric Shinseki, then the Army Vice Chief of Staff, approved the concept of a separate command for ATS.
On Aug. 28, 2003, Air Traffic Services Command was formally activated under Col. Don M. Adkins and Command Sgt. Maj. Johnny D. Hatten and officially relocated to Fort Rucker.
Air Traffic Services has a long and proud history. Always at the forefront ready to answer the nation’s call. Proclaiming a clear voice of freedom, wherever Army Aviators are called to serve…Calm, Expert, Professionals… Freedom’s Voice!