BY ORDER OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 13-550
16 APRIL 2019
Nuclear, Space, Missile, Command and
Control
AIR FORCE NUCLEAR COMMAND,
CONTROL, AND COMMUNICATIONS
(NC3)
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY
ACCESSIBILITY: Publications and forms are available on the e-Publishing website at
www.e-publishing.af.mil for downloading or ordering.
RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication.
OPR: AF/A10N
Supersedes: AFI 13-550, 2 October 2014
Certified by: AF/A10
(Mr. James J. Brooks)
Pages: 29
This instruction implements Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 13-5, Air Force Nuclear Mission,
and establishes general Air Force (AF) direction, guidance, and responsibilities to execute Nuclear
Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) operations across AF forces. This instruction
applies to all Regular Air Force, Reserve, Air National Guard, civilian, contractors, and other
personnel or organizations, as required by binding agreement or obligation with the Department
of the Air Force. The authorities to waive wing/unit level requirements in this publication are
identified with a Tier (“T-0, T-1, T-2, T-3”) number following the compliance statement. See Air
Force instruction (AFI) 33-360, Publications and Forms Management, for a description of the
authorities associated with the Tier numbers. Submit requests for waivers through the chain of
command to the appropriate Tier waiver approval authority, or alternately, to the requestors
commander for non-tiered compliance items. Refer recommended changes and questions to the
Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) on AF Form 847, Recommendation for Change of
Publication. Route AF Forms 847 through the appropriate functional chain of command. Any
level may supplement this publication, but must route all direct supplements to the OPR of this
publication for coordination prior to certification and approval. Ensure all records created as a
result of processes prescribed in this publication are maintained in accordance with Air Force
Manual 33-363, Management of Records, and disposed of in accordance with the Air Force
Records Disposition Schedule located in the Air Force Records Information Management System.
