Czech Republic, Italy and Spain. With the accession to NATO of seven new members (Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia) in March 2004, the Baltic States Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as well as Slovakia became a part of AIRNORTH. On 1 July 2004, AIRNORTH was renamed Component Command-Air Ramstein (CC AIR) and a new internal HQ-structure was implemented. With effect of 1 March 2010 the command was renamed to Allied Air Command Ramstein and with effect from 1 January 2013, following the deactivation of Allied Air Command İzmir, the command was renamed Allied Air Command ('AIRCOM'). Lineage Allied Air Command has previously been named as follows: 28 June 1974 – 1 July 1993 (Allied Air Forces Central Europe) 1 July 1993 – 3 March 2000 (AIRCENT) 3 March 2000 – March 2004 (AIRNORTH) March 2004 – 2010 (Component Command-Air Headquarters Ramstein) 2010 – 1 January 2013 (Headquarters Allied Air Command Ramstein) 1 January 2013 – present (Allied Air Command) Role Allied Air Command is tasked with planning and directing the air component of NATO operations and missions, as well as air and missile defence matters. It is NATO's principal air advisor and contributes to development and transformation, engagement and outreach within its area of expertise. The command is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, from where it can provide command and control for small joint air operations or perform as air component command to support a larger operation. The commander of AIRCOM is currently a United States Air Force General who also serves in the U.S. national appointment of Commander United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa. He is the designated Commander Allied Air Command for all air and space missions ask tasked by SACEUR and the Air and Space Advisor to SACEUR. AIRCOM has a multinational staff, which may include liaison elements from other NATO headquarters and national commands as specified in agreements. The Deputy Air Commander is ordinarily a French or a British 3-star, now appointed by rotation. One of its previously subordinate activities was Combined Air Operations Centre Finderup, in Denmark. Subordinate activities of AIRCOM Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem, Combined Air Operations Centre Torrejon, and the Deployable Air Command and Control Centre at Poggio Renatico in Italy. The CAOC in Uedem's primary peacetime role is the tactical Command and Control of Quick- Reaction Alert Forces used to police NATO airspace above