Structure of the United States Space Force
The United States Space Force is organized by different units: the Space Staff, the field commands, and the space deltas.
The Space Force is organized as one of two coequal military service branches within the Department of the Air Force, the other being the United States Air Force. Both services are overseen by the Secretary of the Air Force, who has overall responsibility for organizing, training, and equipping the Air Force and Space Force.[1]
The military head of the Space Force is the chief of space operations (CSO), who is an officer in the grade of general.
Space Staff
The Space Staff is the headquarters of the U.S. Space Force. Like the U.S. Air Force's Air Staff that is under the Department of the Air Force, it is overseen by the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. It is responsible for developing doctrine, guidance, and plans in performing the Space Force's functions, cooperating with the Air Staff on support issues. It is composed of the military service's most senior leaders: the chief of space operations, the vice chief of space operations, and the chief master sergeant of the Space Force. Like the other services, there is a director of staff who oversees the synchronization of policies and plans of the headquarters staff and four deputy chiefs of space operations.[2] The Space Staff was designed to be lean. Compared to the Air Force's nine headquarters directorates, the Space Force merged nine functional areas into four directorates.[2] Additionally, each of the four deputy chiefs of space operations has unofficial positional titles akin to that of corporate organizations: chief human capital officer, chief operations officer, chief technology and innovation officer, and chief strategy and resourcing officer. The chief human capital officer and chief technology and innovation officer positions are held by senior civilian officials at the SES-3 level, while both the chief operations officer and chief strategy and resourcing officer positions are filled by two lieutenant generals.[3]
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Chief of Space Operations (CSO): Gen B. Chance Saltzman
Vice Chief of Space Operations (VCSO): Gen David D. Thompson
Director of Staff: Maj Gen Steven P. Whitney
- Deputy Director of Staff: Wade Yamada[4]
- DCSO for Personnel (S1): Katharine Kelley[5]
- Assistant DCSO for Personnel: Todd L. Remington[6]
- DCSO for Intelligence (S2): Maj Gen Gregory Gagnon
- Assistant DCSO for Intelligence: Joseph D. Rouge[7]
- DCSO for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear (S3/4/6/7/10): Lt Gen DeAnna Burt
- Assistant DCSO for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear: Brig Gen James E. Smith
- Associate DCSO for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear: Bruce E. Hollywood[8]
- Mobilization Assistant to the DCSO: Brig Gen Traci Kueker-Murphy, USAF
- Assistant DCSO for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear: Brig Gen James E. Smith
- DCSO for Strategy, Plans, Programs, Requirements, and Analysis (S5/8): Lt Gen Philip Garrant
- Assistant DCSO for Strategy, Plans, Programs, Requirements, and Analysis: Stephen L. Hart[9]
- Director of Plans and Programs (S8): Brig Gen Jennifer L. Grant, USAF
- Chief of Programming (S8/P): Brig Gen Robert Hutt
- Director of Plans and Programs (S8): Brig Gen Jennifer L. Grant, USAF
- Mobilization Assistant to the DCSO: Brig Gen Damon S. Feltman, USAF
- Assistant DCSO for Strategy, Plans, Programs, Requirements, and Analysis: Stephen L. Hart[9]
- DCSO for Technology and Innovation (S9): Dr. Lisa Costa[10]
- Assistant DCSO for Technology and Innovation: Col Roy V. Rockwell
- Mobilization Assistant to the CSO: Maj Gen John M. Olson, USAF
- Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF): CMSSF Roger A. Towberman
Field organization
The Space Force field organization consist of three different echelons of command: field commands, deltas, and squadrons.[11]
Field Command
Field commands (FLDCOMs) align with specific mission focuses and are led by officers in the grade of lieutenant general or major general, comparable to the United States Air Force's major command. The Space Force's three field commands will be Space Operations Command (SpOC), Space Systems Command (SSC), and Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM).
| Field Command | Headquarters | Current commander |
|---|---|---|
 Space Operations Command (SpOC) | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | Lt Gen Stephen Whiting |
 Space Systems Command (SSC) | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Lt Gen Michael Guetlein |
 Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | Brig Gen Timothy Sejba |
| Component Field Commands | ||
| United States Space Forces Cyber[12] | ||
 United States Space Forces Central (SPACEFOR-CENT) | MacDill Air Force Base, Florida | Col Christopher S. Putman |
 United States Space Forces Europe and Africa (SPACEFOR-EURAF) | Ramstein Air Base, Germany[13] | Col Max E. Lantz II |
 United States Space Forces Indo-Pacific (SPACEFOR-INDOPAC) | Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii | Brig Gen Anthony Mastalir |
| United States Space Forces Japan[14] | Yokota Air Base, Japan | |
 United States Space Forces Korea (SPACEFOR-KOR) | Osan Air Base, South Korea | Lt Col Joshua M. McCullion |
 United States Space Forces Strategic and Northern (SPACEFOR-STRATNORTH) | Lt Col James Curran | |
| United States Space Forces Space | Vandenberg Air Force Base, California | Maj Gen Douglas Schiess |
 United States Space Forces Special Operations Command (SPACESOC)[12] | TBA | Col Stephan E. Cummings |
| Space Force Elements | ||
 Space Force Element to the National Reconnaissance Office (SFELM NRO) | Chantilly, Virginia | Maj Gen Christopher Povak |
| Direct Reporting Unit | ||
 Space Development Agency (SDA) | Washington, District of Columbia | Derek Tournear |
Denotes planned unit but not yet activated.
Space Operations Command
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The Space Operations Command (SpOC) will be the primary force provider of space forces and capabilities. It is responsible for the organization, training, equipping, command and control, and employment of space forces to support operational plans and missions for U.S. combatant commanders. It is headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.[15]
Established on 21 October 2020, SpOC was the first field command activated. It was established by the redesignation of the headquarters of the former Air Force Space Command to Space Operations Command. It was composed of the 10 deltas and two garrisons activated on 24 July 2020. This included the Space Training and Readiness Delta (Provisional) which served as the interim unit for space training and education until the August 2021 stand-up of a full field command. SpOC also maintained command of the two launch wings, which were later redesignated as launch deltas in 2021, previously under the Air Force Space Command until the establishment of the Space Systems Command.[16]
The 14th Air Force in Vandenberg Space Force Base, California that was temporarily redesignated Space Operations Command upon the creation of the Space Force was inactivated. A new unit, Space Operations Command West (SpOC West), was activated to serve as headquarters of the Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC), a subordinate command of the United States Space Command. The SpOC West commander also served as the commander of CFSCC and as the deputy commander of SpOC.
Space Systems Command
The Space Systems Command (SSC) is becoming responsible for developing, acquiring, and fielding space systems, as well as launch, sustainment, and maintenance of space systems. It also advises Space Force science and technology activities.
The Space Force on 8 April 2021 announced the planned structure of the SSC. Led by a lieutenant general, SSC was to be formed by redesignating the Space and Missile Systems Center, Commercial Satellite Communications Office, and other space systems programs offices transferred into the Space Force, being stood up in summer 2021. On July 29, Michael Guetlein was confirmed as its first commander by the United States Senate.[17][18] The ceremony installing him in command of the new SSC was held August 13, 2021.[19]
Under the new structure, the two launch deltas previously under SpOC were reassigned to SSC under the oversight of the SSC deputy commander. The commander of the Space Launch Delta 45 will take on additional duties as the field command's director of operations.[17]
Space Training and Readiness Command
The Space Training and Readiness Command was planned to train and educate space professionals, develop combat-ready space forces, and additionally taking on the roles of integrated testing and on-orbit checkout. Initially, before the activation of the command, a Space Training and Readiness Delta was established in July 2020 at Peterson SFB.[11] STARCOM was activated on 23 August 2021, led by a major general.[20] Five subordinate deltas then began being established: one each for training, doctrine and lessons learned, range and aggressor, test and evaluation, and education.[20]
Delta
The Space Force has no command echelon equivalent of the U.S. Air Force′s numbered air forces,[21] so the next command echelon below field commands is the delta, a single level of command which combines the wing and group command echelons found in the U.S. Air Force.[21] Each delta is organized around a specific function, such as operations, installation support, or training, and is led by an officer in the grade of colonel.[11][21] Space Deltas are operational organizations, but have no responsibility for base support, which is either the Air Force′s responsibility,[21] or that of the Space Base Deltas, the former Garrisons.
The first 11 deltas in the Space Force initially were assigned to the Space Operations Command. Of those, two were realigned under the Space Systems Command, and the Space Training and Readiness Delta (Provisional) became a separate field command.
| Delta | Headquarters | Current commander |
|---|---|---|
| Space Operations Command | ||
 Space Delta 2 – Space Domain Awareness and Space Battle Management (DEL 2) | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | Col Raj Agrawal |
 Space Delta 3 – Space Electromagnetic Warfare (DEL 3)/Electromagnetic Warfare Integrated Mission Delta (Provisional) | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | Col Nicole M. Petrucci |
 Space Delta 4 – Missile Warning (DEL 4) | Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado | Col Ernest R. Schmitt |
 Space Delta 5 – Combined Space Operations Center (DEL 5) | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | Col Phillip A. Verroco |
 Space Delta 6 – Cyberspace Operations (DEL 6) | Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado | Col Christopher A. Kennedy |
 Space Delta 7 – Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (DEL 7) | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | Col Brett T. Swigert |
 Space Delta 8 – Satellite Communication and Navigation Warfare (DEL 8) | Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado | Col David A. Pheasant |
 Space Delta 9 – Orbital Warfare (DEL 9) | Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado | Col Mark C. Bigley |
 Space Delta 15 – National Space Defense Center (DEL 15) | Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado | Col Stephen G. Lyon |
 Space Delta 18 – National Space Intelligence Center (DEL 18) | Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio | Col Marqus Q. Randall |
 Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Integrated Misson Delta (Provisional) (PNT IMD) | Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado | Col Andrew S. Menschner |
 Space Base Delta 1 (SBD 1) | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | Col David G. Hanson |
 Space Base Delta 2 (SBD 2) | Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado | Col Heidi L. Dexter |
| Space Systems Command | ||
 Space Base Delta 3 (SBD 3) | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col Mia L. Walsh |
 Space Acquisition Management Delta[22] | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | |
 Assured Access To Space Directorate (AATS or SSC/AA) | ||
| Acquisition Delta – Mission Solutions (AAM)[23] | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col Chad W. Melone |
| Acquisition Delta – Launch Execution (AAL)[24] | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col James T. Horne[25] |
 Space Launch Delta 30 (SLD 30) | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | Col Mark A. Shoemaker |
 Space Launch Delta 45 (SLD 45) | Patrick Space Force Base, Florida | Brig Gen Kristin Panzenhagen |
 Battle Management Command, Control, and Communications Directorate (BMC3 or SSC/BC)[24] | ||
| Acquisition Delta – Operational Command and Control | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col Cecilia Montes de Oca[26] |
| Acquisition Delta – Tactical Command and Control | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col Peter C. Mastro |
| Product Support Delta – Data Transport[27] | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | Shawn Sawyer |
 Military Communications & Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Directorate (MCPNT or SSC/CG)[24] | ||
| Acquisition Delta – Tactical SATCOM (CGT) [27] | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Charlotte M. Gerhart |
| Acquisition Delta – Strategic SATCOM (CGS) [27] | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col A. J. Ashby[26] |
| Acquisition Delta – Narrowband SATCOM (CGN) [27] | Naval Base Point Loma, California[28] | Capt Peter J. Sheehy |
| Acquisition Delta – GPS (CGG) [27] | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col Andy Menschner[26] |
| Acquisition Delta – GPS User Equipment (CGU) [27] | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col Matthew L. Spencer |
| Acquisition Delta – GPS Ground/C2 (CGC) [27] | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Lt Col Marshall Cooper[26] |
| Product Support Delta – MILSATCOM (CGM) [27] | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | George Gonzales |
| Product Support Delta – GPS[27] | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Bruno Mediate |
 Space Sensing Directorate (SSC/SN) | ||
| Acquisition Delta – Commercial Space | Washington, D.C. | Col Richard Kniseley[26] |
 Acquisition Delta – Resilient Missile Warning, Tracking, Defense (SNR) [24] | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col Heather B. Bogstie |
 Acquisition Delta – Environmental and Tactical Surveillance (SNS)[29] | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col Daniel J. Visosky[26] |
| Acquisition Delta – Strategic Missile Warning[30] | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col Daniel T. Walter |
| Product Support Delta – Space Sensing (SNP) [24] | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | Anita J. McCorvey |
 Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power Directorate (SDACP or SSC/SZ)[24] | ||
 Acquisition Delta – Innovation and Prototyping (SZI)[31] | Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico | Col Joseph J. Roth |
| Acquisition Delta – Warfighter Enterprise | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col Corey J. Klopstein |
| Acquisition Delta – Space Warfighting (SZA) | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | Col Erik S. Stockham |
| Acquisition Delta – Advanced MILSATCOM | Los Angeles Air Force Base, California | John Kirkemo |
 Acquisition Delta – Space Domain Awareness (SZG) | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | F. Schnell |
 Acquisition Delta – Strategic Warning and Surveillance Systems (SZQ) | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | Col Jason E. West |
| Space Training and Readiness Command | ||
 Space Delta 1 – Training (DEL 1) | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | Col Peter C. Norsky |
 Space Delta 10 – Doctrine and Wargaming (DEL 10) | United States Air Force Academy, Colorado | Col Jack D. Fulmer II |
 Space Delta 11 – Range and Aggressor (DEL 11) | Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado | Col Jay M. Steingold |
 Space Delta 12 – Test and Evaluation (DEL 12) | Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado | Col E. Lincoln Bonner III |
 Space Delta 13 – Education (DEL 13) | Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama | Col Bryan J. Dutcher |
| Space Force Element to the National Reconnaissance Office | ||
 Space Delta 20 – Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado (DEL 20) | Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado | Col Robert J. Schreiner |
 Space Delta 21 – Aerospace Data Facility-East (DEL 21) | Fort Belvoir, Virginia | Col Nicholas Martin |
 Space Delta 23 – Aerospace Data Facility-Southwest (DEL 23) | White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico | Col Robert E. Shrader |
 Space Delta 24 | ||
 Space Delta 25 – National Reconnaissance Operations Center (DEL 25) | Chantilly, Virginia | |
 Space Delta 26 – NRO Cyber (DEL 26) | Chantilly, Virginia | Col John Heidenreich |
| Space Rapid Capabilities Office | ||
| Advanced Capabilities Acquisition Delta | Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico | Col Andrew Anderson[32] |
| Strategic Capabilities Acquisition Delta | Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico | |
Denotes planned unit but not yet activated.
Squadron
Below deltas in the Space Force structure are squadrons. Space Force squadrons are focused on specific tactics and are led by an officer in the grade of lieutenant colonel.[11]
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History
On 20 December 2019, Air Force Space Command's principal components were 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) and the Space and Missile Systems Center. At the same time as the creation of the Space Force 14th Air Force was redesignated as Space Operations Command.[34]
On 12 March 2019, the Space Development Agency (SDA), a new space-focused development agency, additional to the Space and Missile Systems Center and the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, was established.[35] It was established under the authority of the under secretary of defense for research and engineering.[36] As of January 2020, the SDA is planned to become part of the U.S. Space Force in October 2022.[37]
In early April 2020, a list of twenty-three units to be transferred from the Air Force to the Space Force was publicly reported.[38] Those units included the 17th Test Squadron, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado; 18th Intelligence Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; the 25th Space Range Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO; the 328th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV; the 527th Space Aggressor Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO; the 7th Intelligence Squadron, 659th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, 70th ISR Wing, Ft. Meade, Maryland*; Sixteenth Air Force/Advanced Programs*, Schriever AFB, Colorado; the 32nd Intelligence Squadron, Ft. Meade, Maryland*; the 566th Intelligence Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colorado*; the 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, Group Staff & Detachment 5, Peterson AFB, Colorado; D the 533d Training Squadron, 381st Training Group, Vandenberg AFB, CA (initial training); the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Research Lab Mission Execution, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio*; the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico*; the AFRL Rocket Propulsion Division, Edwards AFB, CA; the AFRL Electro-Optical Division, Maui, Hawaii & Kirtland AFB, New Mexico*; the AFRL Sensors Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio*; the Counter-Space Analysis Squadron and the Space Analysis Squadron, collectively half of the Space and Missiles Analysis Group, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, both at Wright-Patterson AFB; the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 4, Peterson AFB, CO; and the Air Force Safety Center – Space Safety Division, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.
Detachment 1, USAF Warfare Center, Schriever AFB, Colorado; Operating Location A, 705th Combat Training Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colorado (ultimately part of the 505th Command and Control Wing), and the National Security Space Institute, Peterson AFB, CO National Security Space Institute, a place for space education became eventually part of the STAR Delta.
In September 2021 it was announced the 53rd Signal Battalion, the U.S. Army Satellite Operations Brigade, and the Naval Satellite Operations Center would be transferred to Space Force.[39]
Heraldry
Each unit in the Space Force has an emblem in a shape depending on the unit type.[40] Each of the three field commands also have a distinctive color: Platinum Grey for SpOC, Gold for SSC, and Cannes Blue for STARCOM. Unit emblems are trimmed with the color of the field command to which they report. Space Force personnel assigned to National Reconnaissance Office roles will wear insignia trimmed in Black.
| Unit | SpOC (Platinum) | SSC (Gold) | STARCOM (Cannes Blue) | NRO (Black) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Command | | | | |
| Delta |  | |  | |
| Base Delta (hexagon) |  |  | — | — |
| Squadron/Detachment (ellipse) |  |  |  |  |
See also
References
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- "Comprehensive Plan for the Organizational Structure of the U.S. Space Force" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
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- "MilsatMagazine".
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- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-horne-84507b1/
- "Space Systems Command Organization" (PDF). spaceforce.mil. July 31, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- "Military Communications & Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Overview with GPS Update - PNT Advisory Board" (PDF). Retrieved November 17, 2022.
- "Where We Operate".
- Hitchens, Theresa (July 12, 2022). "Space Force considers asking satellite firms to host payloads for tactical ISR".
- "New Missile-Warning Satellite, Set to Launch, Will Complete SBIRS Constellation". August 2, 2022.
- "MilsatMagazine".
- "Advanced Capabilities Group welcomes new director". Kirtland Air Force Base. August 7, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- "Space Delta 6 activates Cyber Squadrons".
- Chiles, Cody (December 27, 2019). "14th Air Force Redesignated as Space Operations Command". United States Space Force. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- Browne, Ryan (March 13, 2019). "Pentagon launches development agency seen as key to future Space Force". CNN. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- Archived copy Retrieved May 2020 Archived 2020-08-17 at the Wayback Machine
- Valerie Insinna (January 21, 2020). "Space Development Agency on track to become part of Space Force in 2022, director says". Defense News. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- Erwin, Sandra (March 31, 2020). "U.S. Air Force to transfer 23 units to the Space Force". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- Erwin, Sandra (September 21, 2021). "Space Force reveals which Army and Navy units are moving to the space branch". Space News. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- "Approved USSF Patch Shapes (5 Aug 2020)". August 6, 2020.
