As a result of the end of the Cold War, the Air Force made several dramatic changes with the inactivation and re-designation of wings and their units.
 A significant reduction in forces in Europe was made in the early 1990s, which reflected the changes in Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

On 15 December 1993, the flight line at RAF Upper Heyford, England was closed and the host unit, the 20th Fighter Wing, was transferred from USAFE to Air Combat Command.
The 20th was reassigned to Shaw AFB, replacing the 363d Fighter Wing as part of the USAF heritage program, which kept senior units on active duty and inactivated newer ones.

Upon activation at Shaw, the 20 FW assumed the personnel and equipment of the inactivated 363 FW.
The operational squadrons of the 363d Operations Group were assigned to the 20th Operations Group and re-designated as follows:
17th Fighter Squadron -> 77th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
19th Fighter Squadron -> 78th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
21st Fighter Squadron -> 55th Fighter Squadron (OA-10A)
309th Fighter Squadron -> 79th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
Since moving to Shaw in 1994 the 20th has taken part and continues to take part in numerous operations.
 In September 1994 the 20 FW provided fighter cover for US operations in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy.
This operation restored democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide who had been ousted in September 1991 by military forces within Haiti.

The wing was called to send F-16s in support of NATO operations during the Kosovo War in April 1999.
On 4 May 1999 an F-16, 91–0353, from the 78th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron flying out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, shot down a Yugoslavian MiG-29 (aircraft number 109).
On 10 June 1999 NATO air operations were suspended.

Throughout the 1990s the 20 FW routinely rotated squadrons to enforce the no-fly zones over Iraq.
Southern Watch began in August 1992 and ended with the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
20 FW squadrons rotated in and out of the Middle East to support enforcement of the no-fly zone.
 The 20th routinely sent squadrons to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey supporting the no-fly zone in northern Iraq between January 1997 and March 2003.

After the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001, the Defense Department developed Noble Eagle to protect US soil in the War on Terrorism.
The 20 FW has been tasked with providing patrols over New York City, Washington, DC and any other location the wing is called upon to protect.
In addition to Noble Eagle tasking the 20th provides fighter cover for the President (POTUS) when traveling and at Camp David.

In February 2003 the 20 FW deployed approximately 1,300 service members and 15 aircraft to the 363 AEW at Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia, attached to the provisional CENTAF 363d Air Expeditionary Wing.
This deployment was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the United States actions for the removal of Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq.
In May 2008 the 77 FS deployed its aircraft and airmen along with maintainers from the 20 MXG to Joint Base Balad, where they conducted operations until relieved by the 55 FS in October 2008.
The 55th carried out operations in Iraq until January 2009.

During 2009 the three squadrons concentrated on regaining aircrew skill sets that atrophy during a combat deployment, in preparation for the next round of deployments.
During 2010 the 55th and 77th once again fought in Iraq.
The 77 FS again was the lead 20 FW unit deploying to Joint Base Balad, Iraq in January 2010.
The 77th carried out operations there until relieved by the 55 FS in May 2010.
The 55th finished its tour in Iraq in October 2010.

The wing has been called to send both personnel and aircraft in support of operations in Afghanistan.
One such deployment was in January 2007 when 150 Airmen deployed as part of an Air Expeditionary Force.
During the October 2009 to February 2010 the 79 FS deployed its aircraft and airmen along with maintainers from the 20 MXG to Bagram AB, Afghanistan.
As a result of the end of the Cold War, the Air Force made several dramatic changes with the inactivation and re-designation of wings and their units.  A significant reduction in forces in Europe was made in the early 1990s, which reflected the changes in Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
On 15 December 1993, the flight line at RAF Upper Heyford, England was closed and the host unit, the 20th Fighter Wing, was transferred from USAFE to Air Combat Command. The 20th was reassigned to Shaw AFB, replacing the 363d Fighter Wing as part of the USAF heritage program, which kept senior units on active duty and inactivated newer ones.
Upon activation at Shaw, the 20 FW assumed the personnel and equipment of the inactivated 363 FW. The operational squadrons of the 363d Operations Group were assigned to the 20th Operations Group and re-designated as follows:
17th Fighter Squadron -> 77th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
19th Fighter Squadron -> 78th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
21st Fighter Squadron -> 55th Fighter Squadron (OA-10A)
309th Fighter Squadron -> 79th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
Since moving to Shaw in 1994 the 20th has taken part and continues to take part in numerous operations.  In September 1994 the 20 FW provided fighter cover for US operations in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy. This operation restored democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide who had been ousted in September 1991 by military forces within Haiti.
The wing was called to send F-16s in support of NATO operations during the Kosovo War in April 1999. On 4 May 1999 an F-16, 91–0353, from the 78th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron flying out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, shot down a Yugoslavian MiG-29 (aircraft number 109). On 10 June 1999 NATO air operations were suspended.
Throughout the 1990s the 20 FW routinely rotated squadrons to enforce the no-fly zones over Iraq. Southern Watch began in August 1992 and ended with the invasion of Iraq in 2003. 20 FW squadrons rotated in and out of the Middle East to support enforcement of the no-fly zone.  The 20th routinely sent squadrons to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey supporting the no-fly zone in northern Iraq between January 1997 and March 2003.
After the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001, the Defense Department developed Noble Eagle to protect US soil in the War on Terrorism. The 20 FW has been tasked with providing patrols over New York City, Washington, DC and any other location the wing is called upon to protect. In addition to Noble Eagle tasking the 20th provides fighter cover for the President (POTUS) when traveling and at Camp David.
In February 2003 the 20 FW deployed approximately 1,300 service members and 15 aircraft to the 363 AEW at Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia, attached to the provisional CENTAF 363d Air Expeditionary Wing. This deployment was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the United States actions for the removal of Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq. In May 2008 the 77 FS deployed its aircraft and airmen along with maintainers from the 20 MXG to Joint Base Balad, where they conducted operations until relieved by the 55 FS in October 2008. The 55th carried out operations in Iraq until January 2009.
During 2009 the three squadrons concentrated on regaining aircrew skill sets that atrophy during a combat deployment, in preparation for the next round of deployments. During 2010 the 55th and 77th once again fought in Iraq. The 77 FS again was the lead 20 FW unit deploying to Joint Base Balad, Iraq in January 2010. The 77th carried out operations there until relieved by the 55 FS in May 2010. The 55th finished its tour in Iraq in October 2010.
The wing has been called to send both personnel and aircraft in support of operations in Afghanistan. One such deployment was in January 2007 when 150 Airmen deployed as part of an Air Expeditionary Force. During the October 2009 to February 2010 the 79 FS deployed its aircraft and airmen along with maintainers from the 20 MXG to Bagram AB, Afghanistan.
Shaw Air Force Base