Empowering Excellence: Brig Gen Bentley’s Blueprint for the 618th Air Operations Center

When you love what you do, it shows. Seventy-five days into his command of the 618th Air Operations Center (618 AOC), Brig Gen Cassius T. Bentley III’s enthusiasm for the role grows with each new day—and with each new challenge. At the 618 AOC, the Department of Defense’s only Global Air Operations Center, no two days are alike. Personnel on the 24-hour operations floor execute approximately 100 to 150 missions daily, while the rest of the nearly 800-member team is busy planning, tasking, and assessing upcoming or recently completed missions.

“The missions are complex,” Bentley said. “Watching what the team does every day is nothing short of amazing.”

These missions range from airlift support for our nation’s top leaders to humanitarian efforts and contingency operations. The AOC demonstrates the unparalleled ability to command and control forces across the full spectrum of mobility operations, including air refueling, airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and the global air mobility support system.

The 618 AOC deals in high-demand, low-density capabilities, meaning that it focuses “on efficiently preserving [the] capacity to enable wings to execute their training programs for the high-end fight,” Bentley explained.

Delivering our nation’s promises is no simple task, but Bentley firmly believes that the 618 AOC has the people to make it happen.

“Our Airmen are the magic that makes the mission happen,” he remarked. “They are resilient, well versed in our mission, and they maintain the credibility that the Joint Force relies on for power projection.”

To further invest in the AOC’s key players and further its capabilities, Bentley relies on his leadership philosophy and strategy, which centers around three priorities: Airmen, Operations, and Culture.

Airmen (including active duty, guard, reserve, and civilians), he explained, are at the heart of everything the 618 AOC does.

“We need to make sure that when our people come to work, they are not distracted by external concerns and have the tools to succeed,” Bentley said. “We are doing everything we can to support them, from ensuring they have the resources they need to embedding support for resiliency.”

Operations are where the 618 AOC can continue to lead the mobility enterprise through in-depth planning, innovation, and adopting new technologies.

“Ops are what we do, and there is no one that does it better than the 618 AOC,” Bentley declared.

The General recognizes that adopting a mindset of continuous improvement thwarts complacency. Therefore, he is always looking for innovative solutions from Airmen who understand the mission best.

Culture, the final element, is what ties everything together.

“I come to work every day smiling because of the team,” Bentley shared.

For Bentley, this mindset means developing a healthy, thriving work environment. He knows that dignity, respect, and trust are all foundational to the 618 AOC’s culture.

“A strong foundation will enable us to adapt swiftly to emerging challenges and maintain our operational effectiveness in an ever-changing global landscape,” he said.

Looking ahead, Bentley shared that upcoming technological advancements will further enhance the AOC’s capabilities.

“We are constantly evaluating new technologies,” he explained. “Currently, the AOC is in the process of digitally transforming communication with mobility forces, making it more secure, flexible, and constant. We want to be able to connect with everyone, everywhere in the world,” Bentley said, emphasizing the importance of a robust network that supports everyone from the ports and medical teams to maintainers and aircrews.

“Our goal is to integrate advanced technologies to support operational superiority and maintain a strategic advantage,” Bentley said. “Whether it is adopting AI [artificial intelligence], machine learning, or cyber capabilities, we want to make sure that we are staying at the forefront … We must continue to invest in cutting edge warfighting technologies.”

As the AOC prepares to move into the new Joint Operations Mission and Planning Center (JOMPC) in the next few years, they are focused on modernization. The JOMPC will fuse U.S. Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command (AMC) staff, and the 618 AOC connectivity to improve the ability to execute the high-end fight. This modernization serves to increase the resiliency and capability of executing missions in highly contested environments.

“As we move into that new building, we want to ensure that all of our systems have evolved to the newest technology level to make sure we have the ability to plan in depth.”

The General may have an innovative spirit and an open mind, but this does not stand in the way of safe operations.

He ensures that the 618 AOC has the information needed to correctly set up parameters to carry out missions safely and effectively. Moreover, Bentley’s motto is “Be informed.” Hence, he encourages and reviews robust feedback on ChatOps channels, employs Mr. Cody Huet in a full-time safety position, and tightly ties the 618 AOC with AMC Chief of Safety Col John Kelley to ensure risk-informed decisions are made with safety in mind.

“I have had a lot of great opportunities in my life in the Air Force, but the 618 AOC is unlike any organization I have ever been a part of,” Bentley shared, noting that when he assumed command, the outgoing commander told him that he would love this job. “He was absolutely telling the truth.”

In the spirit of his people-centric approach to leadership, the General acknowledged a few personnel, including SrA Salinas, who was pivotal in communicating requirements in a never-used airfield in Spain with Spanish-speaking hosts. Mr. Barnes, in the Diplomatic Clearance section, was acknowledged for his positivity—“if you are having a bad day at work, the guy is always smiling, and he will always make your day better.” MSgt Edwards was also recognized. In week one of Bentley’s tour, Edwards rapidly drove solutions in diverting mobility assets to save lives in multiple locations.

Bentley’s vision for the AOC is clear: keep pushing forward, never grow complacent, and always prioritize the well-being and development of the people who make it all possible. Whether preparing for a future fight or executing today’s mission, the 618 AOC remains ready, resilient, and relentless in its pursuit of excellence.

Biography of Brig Gen Cassius T. Bentley III

The 618 AOC, also known as the Tanker Airlift Control Center, is familiar territory for Bentley. Having “grown up” in the C-17 aircraft community and later leading the Air Force’s Super Tanker Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, he is well versed in tanker and airlift operations and 618 AOC’s mission. He is a Command Pilot with more than 4,400 hours in airlift and tanker aircraft.

Bentley received his officer commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps upon graduation from the University of Kentucky and Centre College in 1998. He is a graduated Squadron and Wing Commander, and has held positions at the major command and combatant command level. He deployed in support of numerous operations, including ENDURING FREEDOM, NOBLE EAGLE, IRAQI FREEDOM, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, and INHERENT RESOLVE. Bentley also studied foreign relations at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.

Before his current role, Bentley was Deputy Director of Strategic Plans, Policy, and Logistics for U.S. Transportation Command, overseeing global support for combatant commanders.

Bentley credits Gen Carlton Everhart, former AMC Commander and Airlift/Tanker Association executive, for shaping his current leadership approach.

About the 618 AOC

618 AOC is responsible for the operational planning, tasking, executing, and assessing of approximately 1,100 aircraft, performing the air mobility mission, and providing command and control of strategic airlift, aerial refueling, aeromedical evacuation, global air mobility support, and presidential and senior leader air transport in support of national interests.