The Allied Air Forces Central Europe (AAFCE) Tactical Leadership Program (TLP) was born from the desire of the Air Forces of Central Europe to improve their tactics. There was also a strong desire to develop new tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs). Improving multi - national airpower was an important motive.

With this in mind, TLP founded in January 1978 at the airbase Germany Fürstenfeldbruck by Belgium, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States of America. Were initially two weeks of seminars where students from the countries discussed NATO TTPs. In September 1979 TLP moved to Jever in Germany. There a flight phase was first introduced as part of the course. The course was extended to four weeks. TLP remained in Jever until December 1988 . By this time, TLP hat about 71 flying courses organized with more than 2,000 graduate NATO pilots.

In March 1989 the TLP moved to Florennes Air Base in Belgian where two new departments, Academics & Concepts and Doctrines, were added. The staff was expanded with a French liaison officer . TLP was expanded with Denmark and Italy in January 1996. Spain was added in 2002. Canada withdrew from TLP back in 1997 as a result of the withdrawal of the Canadian Air Force in Germany, but retained a liaison officer in the TLP Staff.

In January 2002, the name of TLP changed to "Allied Command Operations Tactical Leadership Programme", or ACO TLP.

TLP had difficulty finding suitable space for conducting training. During 2000 increasing European airspace is more crowded resulting in less space for a military flight program. This, coupled with the bad weather in Florennes and no opportunities for night flying, led in July 2009 that TLP moved to the airbase Albacete in Spain. In creating TLP Spain Canada withdrew completely and Greece and France became full members. The first course in Albacete started on October 4, 2009.