ROTC was established with passage of the National Defense Act of 1916. The first Air ROTC units were established between 1920 and 1923 at the University of California at Berkeley, Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Illinois, the University of Washington, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College (Texas A&M).

After World War II, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, chief of staff of the War Department, signed General Order No. 124, establishing Air ROTC units at 78 colleges and universities throughout the nation. A new two-year Senior Program, scholarships and a Junior Program were authorized by the ROTC Vitalization Act of 1964. In 1978, Air Training Command, with headquarters at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, assumed responsibility for Air Force ROTC programs.

On July 1, 1993, Air Training Command merged with Air University to form Air Education and Training Command. Air University became a direct reporting unit under Air Education and Training Command and Air Force ROTC realigned under Air University.