The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) was a major command of the United States Air Force from 1948–1965. Established on 1 June 1948 by the Department of Defense, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command (ATC) into a single, joint, unified command. Its mission was to provide an air transportation system for military personnel and equipment between United States military bases worldwide.