4th Space Control Squadron

The United States Space Force's 4th Space Control Squadron is an offensive space control unit[1] formerly located at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., stood up operations July 1, 2014[5] at Peterson AFB, Colorado.[6]

4th Space Control Squadron
Emblem of the 4th Space Control Squadron
Active1990–present
Country United States
Branch United States Space Force
RoleControl of Offensive CounterspaceSystems[1]
Part ofSpace Delta 3
Garrison/HQPeterson Air Force Base, Colorado
Nickname(s)Pirates[2]
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award[3]
Commanders
Current
commander		Lt Col Kara Sartori[4]
Insignia
4th Space Control Squadron emblem (approved 5 June 1995)[3][note 1]

Mission

The 4th Space Control Squadron is an Space Operations Command unit responsible for delivering offensive counterspace and space situational awareness, as appropriate, to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile effects in support of global and theater campaigns.[7]

The squadron provides combat space superiority effects to the Commander, Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC) and theater Combatant Commanders through operation of the Counter Communications System.

History

The unit initially activated at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in October 1990 as the 4th Surveillance Squadron, when it replaced Detachment 2, of the 694th Electronic Security Wing and assumed its personnel and equipment.[7][note 2]

The Low Altitude Space Surveillance system (LASS) was activated by Air Force Space Command in October 1990. The unit was named the 4th Surveillance Squadron. One year later, it was redesignated as the 4th Space Surveillance Squadron. During this time, the unit continued to perform a research and development mission and a mission to train newly assigned LASS operators until April 1993. The 4th SPSS also performed mobile space surveillance communications and space data relay.[8]

The squadron was assigned to the 73d Space Surveillance Group and in April 1995 merged with the 21st Space Wing. In April 1996, the unit moved operations from its home at Lackland AFB, Texas, to Holloman AFB, New Mexico, before relocating to Peterson AFB, Colorado in 2011. The unit was redesignated as the 4th Space Control Squadron in February 2003. The 4th transitioned to a counterspace mission in July 2005, and activated its first Counter Communications System on 11 April 2006.

From late 2002 until May 2003 the squadron deployed 56 members to support Operation Iraqi Freedom to provide data relay and other space communications for theater commanders.[9]

Squadron members deployed to the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron along with other 21st Space Wing units to support Operation Silent Sentry and the Rapid Attack Identification Detection and Reporting System (RAIDRS) in Southwest Asia. Formerly known as the SATCOM Interference Response System (SIRS), Silent Sentry began simply as a proof of concept but grew into a fully operational system that supported the Combined Air and Space Operations Center's ability to command and control its forces. The system was Air Force Space Command's first deployable defensive counterspace weapon system. Their efforts earned them the 2006 Air Force Association Citation of Honor for "outstanding contribution of an organization to the development of aerospace power for the betterment of mankind."[10]

Lineage
  • Constituted as the 4th Surveillance Squadron on 26 September 1990
  • Activated on 1 October 1990
  • Redesignated 4th Space Surveillance Squadron on 15 May 1992
  • Redesignated 4th Space Control Squadron on 1 March 2003[3]

Assignments

Stations
  • Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, 1 October 1990[3]
  • Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, 16 April 1996[3]
  • Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, July 2014 – present[6]

Commanders
  • Lt Col Kara L. Sartori, June 16, 2020 - present
  • Lt Col William D. Sanders (2018-2020)
  • Lt Col Christopher Fernengel (2016-2018)
  • Lt Col Eric Lingle, July 11, 2014[11]
  • Lt Col Scott D. Brodeur (2012–2014)
  • Lt Col E. Marcus Caughey (2010- 2012)
  • Lt Col Carl M. Jones (2008-2010)[7]
  • Lt Col Daniel A. Dant (2006-2008)[12]
  • Lt Col Fred W. Gaudlip (2004–2006)
  • Lt Col James Wolf (circa 2002–2004)[13]
  • Lt Col Stephen M. Tanous (2000–2002)[14]
  • Lt Col Jonathan Watkins (1998–2000)
  • Lt Col Cameron Bowser (1996–1998)
  • Lt Col James G. Lee (circa 1996)[15]

Systems Operated
  • Counter Communications System (2006 – present)[7][16]
  • Low Altitude Space Surveillance System (1986–2006)[1]

Decorations
1 January 1999 – 31 December 1999
1 January 2000 – 31 August 2001
1 October 2005 – 30 September 2007[3]

See also

References
Notes
  1. Blazon: Azure, a demi-globe issuant from base Celeste, gridlined Azure below an eagle volant proper above in dexter base three mullets of four in bend sinister Or, all within a diminished border of the third. Haulman Factsheet, 4 Space Control Squadron.
  2. Detachment 2 was a space systems training unit for Electronic Security Command. Its origins were with Detachment 2, 6960th Electronic Security Wing, which was organized in September 1986. When the 6960th was inactivated in October, the detachment was replaced by Detachment 2, Headquarters, Continental Electronic Security Division, which was replaced in turn by Detachment 2, Headquarters, Space Electronic Security Division in May 1988. It came under the 694th Electronic Security Wing in May 1989. Peterson AFB Factsheet, 4th Space Control Squadron.
Citations
  1. Dant, LTC Daniel (14 September 2006). "Holloman AFB Commentary: Commanding with a vision key to good leadership". 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  2. Raymond, Col Jay (2007). "Commander's Corner: 4th Space Control Squadron visit highlights exceptional unit" (PDF). Space Observer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  3. Haulman, Daniel L. (21 October 2011). "Factsheet 4 Space Control Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  4. https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6243701/4th-spcs-receives-new-commander
  5. "4th Space Control Squadron to move to new home". Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  6. "21st Space Wing Units: 4th Space Control Squadron". 21st Space Wing Public Affairs. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  7. "Peterson AFB Library: 4th Space Control Squadron Factsheet". 21st Space Wing Public Affairs. 14 July 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  8. Pike, John (20 July 2011). "21st Space Wing (21st SW)". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  9. "4th SPCS honored during welcome home parade" (PDF). Space Observer. Archived from the original on 26 February 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  10. Khan, Maj Shariful (21 September 2007). "Silent Sentry contributes to ops throughout the AOR". U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  11. https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/731268/4th-spcs-gets-new-home-commander/
  12. Lt. Col. Daniel Dant (14 September 2006). "Ibid". Holloman.af.mil. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  13. "Space Observer 22 May 2003" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 September 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  14. "Official Biography (Mar 2007)". Vandenberg.af.mil. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  15. AFHRA FOIA Req 09-0061: 21st Space Wing Roster of Key Personnel (as of 31 Dec 1996)
  16. "Pentagon's Plans for "Space Control"". DefenseTech.org. 27 January 2007. Archived from the original on 17 October 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2016.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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