As a Direct Reporting Unit, AFDW is directly subordinate to the Chief of Staff, Headquarters, United States Air Force, and serves as the Air Force service component to the JFHQ-NCR.

AFDW originates back to the post-World War II era when Bolling Field Command was established on 15 December 1946.

The Air Force District of Washington was constituted and activated, on 1 October 1985. it was inactivated on 15 Jul 1994, due to declining defense budgets.

JTF-NCR has an emergency or major event operation 'mobilization' function as Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.

Air Force District of Washington comprises the following wings and major units.