Air Force Materiel Command traces its heritage to 1917 at McCook Field, a World War I-era, experimental engineering facility in Dayton, Ohio. With the creation of the U.S. Air Service in 1918, the organization became known as the Engineering Division and was expanded to include responsibility for the Air Corps' logistics system. It was redesignated the Air Corps Materiel Division in 1926. As the largest branch of the Air Corps, the Materiel Division was responsible for all aircraft and equipment research, development, procurement, maintenance, supply, and flight tests. The research, development and logistics functions were separated during World War II. However, they were subsequently reunited for several years during the late 1940s under the Air Materiel Command and structured around the strengths of technological superiority and worldwide logistics support. In 1950, the Air Research and Development Command was broken out as a separate organization devoted strictly to research and development. In 1961, Air Materiel Command was redesignated Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC), while the Air Research and Development Command gained the added responsibility for weapon system acquisition and was redesignated Air Force Systems Command (AFSC). On July 1, 1992, AFLC and AFSC combined to form Air Force Materiel Command, a single, streamlined organization with an expanded mission. The new command built upon AFLC's expertise in providing worldwide logistics support -- including maintenance, modification, and overhaul of weapon systems -- and AFSC's expertise in science, technology, research, development and testing. The new AFMC has tremendous resources and responsibilities, directly controlling about 33 percent of the Air Force's budget. AFMC supports nine host bases and runs the Air Force's medical and test pilot schools. As with any outstanding organization, AFMC's most important resource is its people, a world-class work force with about 87,000 Air Force experts in matters ranging from the research laboratory to the flight line. Today, AFMC remains committed to helping ensure the continued dominance of the United States Air Force in air, space, and cyberspace.