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AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER (AC)

The Navy's tower, radar approach, and shipboard CATCC controller — every Navy aircraft talks to an AC.

Rating Badge

Rating Code

Community

Naval Aviation

Paygrade Range

E-1 to E-9

ASVAB Minimum

VE+AR+MK+MC=220

A-School

Naval Air Technical Training Center, NAS Pensacola, FL · ~17 weeks

Clearance

Secret

Obligation

6 years

OVERVIEW

Air Traffic Controller (AC) is the U.S. Navy's enlisted air-traffic-control rating. ACs run the towers and radar approach control facilities at every Naval Air Station, operate the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) aboard every aircraft carrier, and provide the Marine Air Traffic Control Detachment controllers in expeditionary operations.

Navy ACs are FAA-certified controllers, and many transition to the FAA after their Navy service. ACs work the most demanding ATC environment in the world: a moving runway 1,000 feet long, in pitching seas, at night.

The aviation community covers Sailors who maintain, operate, and support U.S. Navy aircraft — fixed-wing fighters, maritime patrol, helicopters, and unmanned platforms — both on aircraft carriers and at shore-based naval air stations. The community follows the Aviation Maintenance Officer (AMO) construct and emphasizes Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP) qualifications.

A-school for the rating runs ~17 weeks at Naval Air Technical Training Center, NAS Pensacola, FL, where Sailors complete the technical foundation needed to report to their first fleet command. Entry requires the ASVAB line score VE+AR+MK+MC=220 and an enlistment obligation of 6–6 years. ACs advance through the standard enlisted paygrade structure (E-1 through E-9), competing in the Navy-Wide Advancement Examination (NWAE) at E-4 through E-6 and via the Selection Board at E-7 through E-9. Senior ACs typically serve as Leading Petty Officer (LPO), Work Center Supervisor, Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO), or Command Master Chief (CMC), and may pursue Limited Duty Officer (LDO), Chief Warrant Officer (CWO), or commissioning programs such as STA-21, MECP, or OCS.

Across the active force, AC Sailors are essential to the Navy's mission readiness, and the rating remains an in-demand career field with strong reenlistment bonuses (SRB), advancement opportunities, and pathways into Navy Reserve, civilian DoD, and industry careers after service.

WHAT ACs DO

ACs operate the local control (tower) and ground-control positions at NAS towers, the radar approach control (RAPCON) and approach/departure positions at NAS RAPCONs, the CATCC aboard aircraft carriers (Marshall stack control, approach control, final control), and the airborne controller positions on E-2D Hawkeyes (ACO/CICO/RO). ACs perform aircraft identification, separation, sequencing, and recovery in every weather and light condition.

RESPONSIBILITIES

ACs operate the local control (tower) and ground-control positions at NAS towers, the radar approach control (RAPCON) and approach/departure positions at NAS RAPCONs, the CATCC aboard aircraft carriers (Marshall stack control, approach control, final control), and the airborne controller positions on E-2D Hawkeyes (ACO/CICO/RO). ACs perform aircraft identification, separation, sequencing, and recovery in every weather and light condition.
Stand watches and qualify on the rating's Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS), maintain training jackets, and mentor junior ACs as required by the chain of command.
Lead the AC work center as Leading Petty Officer or Work Center Supervisor — managing maintenance documentation in 3M/MFOM, parts ordering, and personnel qualifications.
Support general military training (GMT), damage control, force protection, and watch-bill assignments common to every Sailor regardless of rating.

HISTORY

Air Traffic Controller was established in 1948 as Navy aviation grew from sea-based-only operations to a global naval-air-station enterprise. The CATCC mission aboard carrier rolled up under AC at the same time, and the rating has owned the carrier-based ATC mission ever since.

ACs train alongside Marine ATC controllers at the joint Air Traffic Controller School at NAS Pensacola.

The aviation rating structure traces to 1921 when the Bureau of Aeronautics was established and the Navy formalized aviation enlisted ratings to support the rapid growth of carrier aviation between the world wars. Successive consolidations through the 1948 enlisted-rating reorganization and the modern Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) shaped the current pipeline.

Today the Air Traffic Controller (AC) rating is overseen by the Enlisted Community Management (ECM) office at My Navy HR and the Center for Personal and Professional Development. Modern ACs benefit from the Sailor 2025 personnel-system reforms, the Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) training continuum, and credentialing through the Navy COOL program — turning rating qualifications into industry-recognized certifications and licenses.

The rating's structure, training pipeline, and operational employment continue to evolve alongside the Navy's transition to Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), Project Overmatch, and the Force Design 2045 fleet architecture, ensuring ACs remain central to the warfighting mission.

TRAINING PIPELINE

1. Recruit Training (Boot Camp)~10 weeks
Naval Station Great Lakes, IL
Initial entry training for all U.S. Navy enlisted Sailors at the Navy's only boot camp.
2. Air Traffic Controller A-School~17 weeks
Naval Air Technical Training Center, NAS Pensacola, FL
Initial rating-skills training for AC accessions.
3. Fleet / Operational TourFirst sea or operational tour
Naval Air Stations — towers and RAPCONs worldwide
On-the-job training and qualifications in the AC rating with a fleet unit.

TYPICAL CAREER PATH

E-1/E-3
Apprentice AC
A-school at NAS Pensacola; first tour at a NAS tower/RAPCON earning FAA controller ratings.
E-4/E-6
Petty Officer AC
Qualify as Local Controller, Ground Controller, RAPCON Approach/Departure, and CATCC Final Controller.
E-7+
Chief Air Traffic Controller
ATC Facility Chief, Quality Assurance Officer, or instructor at the joint ATC school.

TYPICAL PLATFORMS & UNITS

Naval Air Stations — towers and RAPCONs worldwide
Aircraft carriers (CVN) — CATCC
Amphibious assault ships (LHA/LHD) — Helo Direction Center
Expeditionary Marine Air Traffic Control detachments

EXAMPLE NECs

AC-9501 Air Traffic Control Facility Watch Supervisor
AC-9502 Air Traffic Control Maintenance Supervisor

How to address

As an enlisted Sailor by paygrade and last name (e.g. "Petty Officer Smith" for E-4–E-6, "Chief Smith" for E-7+). The rating abbreviation "AC" is appended to the paygrade in writing — e.g., AC1 Smith for AC Petty Officer First Class.

Prerequisites

U.S. citizenship and minimum ASVAB VE+AR+MK+MC=220
High school diploma or equivalent
Pass the Navy physical and medical screening
Secret security clearance eligibility

Common assignments

Naval Air Stations — towers and RAPCONs worldwide
Aircraft carriers (CVN) — CATCC
Amphibious assault ships (LHA/LHD) — Helo Direction Center
Expeditionary Marine Air Traffic Control detachments

RELATED RATINGS

RELATED BASES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes — Navy ACs earn FAA Control Tower Operator (CTO) certificates and FAA controller ratings, and many transition directly into FAA controller positions after their Navy service.

AC A-school is at the Naval Air Technical Training Center on NAS Pensacola, FL — co-located with the joint Marine Air Traffic Controller school.

Yes — ACs run the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) aboard every U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, controlling aircraft from launch through marshal stack, approach, and final.

SOURCES

Last updated 2026-05-02

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