Which division within an AOC focuses on strategizing for operations?

The division within an Air Operations Center (AOC) that focuses on strategizing for operations is the Strategy division. This division is primarily responsible for long-term planning and developing the overall strategy for conducting operations to achieve specific objectives. It takes into account factors like available resources, potential threats, and desired outcomes to create a cohesive operational vision that guides other divisions.

Strategic planning involves analyzing the operational environment, understanding the capabilities and limitations of forces, and determining how best to apply air power to achieve the desired end state. This includes not only current operations but also future contingencies, ensuring that the overall objectives align with national defense policies and directives. The Strategy division plays a key role in integrating input from various sources to inform high-level decisions and prioritize efforts across the AOC.

The other divisions, while critical to the operation of an AOC, focus on different aspects. The Combat Operations division handles real-time operations and execution of ongoing missions, Combat Plans focuses on the detailed planning of specific operations, and Air Mobility deals specifically with the logistics and transportation aspects of air operations. Each of these functions supports the strategic framework but does not encompass the same level of long-term planning as the Strategy division.