Space Delta 3 | |
---|---|
![]() DEL 3 emblem | |
Founded | 1 January 1967 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Delta |
Role | Space electromagnetic warfare |
Size | 350 personnel[1] |
Part of | ![]() |
Headquarters | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S. |
Website | www |
Commanders | |
Commander | Col Nicole M. Petrucci |
Deputy Commander | Lt Col John Kolb[1] |
Senior Enlisted Leader | CMSgt Taryn Stys[2] |
Insignia | |
Guidon | ![]() |
Space Delta 3 (DEL 3) is a United States Space Force unit responsible for presenting operational combat-ready space electromagnetic warfare forces in support of assigned missions.[3] It is headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base.[4][5][2][6]
Activated on 24 July 2020, it replaced the former 21st Space Wing's 721st Operations Group upon establishment.[7] The 721st Operations Group was activated on 10 October 2019 partly by realigning units from the former 21st Operations Group to focus securing the electromagnetic spectrum for national security space operations.[8]
On 1 January 1967 the 73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing, joined the 71st Surveillance Wing as one of the two wings in Air Defense Command's 9th Aerospace Defense Division, which was responsible for the Air Force's contribution to the defense of North America to space oriented attack. It was first organized at Ent Air Force Base, Colorado. The 71st Wing, which was soon renamed the 71st Missile Warning Wing,[9] was responsible for the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, while the 73rd focused on space based systems. The wing's operational elements were the 16th Surveillance Squadron at Shemya Air Force Station, Alaska,[10] the 17th Surveillance Squadron at Moorestown Air Force Station, New Jersey,[11] the 18th Surveillance Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, California. the 19th Surveillance Squadron at Pirinclik Air Station, Turkey[12] and the 20th Surveillance Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, all organized the same day as the wing. Like the wing, the component squadrons were to be activated as "aerospace" surveillance squadrons. However, on 3 January 1967, the decision was made to retroactively drop the "aerospace" from the squadron names.[13] Sensor operations included the Spacetrack System.[11] The wing was inactivated in April 1971.
The 73rd was reactivated on 1 March 1989 as the 73d Space Surveillance Group. On 1 October 1992, Detachment 3 at Misawa Air Base, Japan (which had been added on 1 January 1991) was expanded to form the 3rd Space Surveillance Squadron.[14] Its last assignment was with Fourteenth Air Force, being stationed at Falcon Air Force Base, Colorado. It was inactivated on 26 April 1995.
The Group performed space surveillance. In April 1995 the 73d Space Surveillance Group merged with the 21st Space Wing. From that point the 21st became the largest wing in the United States Air Force with units deployed throughout the world.
In December 2021, DEL 3 was awarded as the best delta in Space Operations Command.[15] The delta's three operational units were redesignated as electromagnetic warfare squadrons on April 15, 2022.[16]
DEL 3 is a component of Space Operations Command, one of eight deltas aligned under the field command. It is composed of the 3rd Combat Training Squadron, which provides advanced training to the delta's members, and three operational units, the 4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, 5th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, and 16th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron. It is also augmented by four Air National Guard units, the 114th Space Control Squadron, 138th Space Control Squadron, 216th Space Control Squadron, and 293rd Space Control Squadron, and the Air Force Reserve's 380th Space Control Squadron[17]
It plans to add a defensive space electronic unit in Guam.[17]
Emblem | Name[18] | Function | Headquarters | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Squadrons | ||||
![]() |
3rd Combat Training Squadron (3 CTS) | Operational training and certification, tactics development, engineering support, and crew force management | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | |
![]() |
4th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron (4 EWS) | Space electronic warfare | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | |
![]() |
5th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron (5 EWS) | Space electronic warfare | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado | |
![]() |
16th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron (16 EWS) | Space electronic warfare | Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado |
No. | Commander | Term | Ref | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | ||
1 | John G. Thien | Colonel24 July 2020 | 31 July 2021 | 1 year, 7 days | [24] | |
2 | Christopher A. Fernengel | Colonel31 July 2021 | 29 June 2023 | 1 year, 333 days | [25][26] | |
3 | Nicole M. Petrucci | Colonel29 June 2023 | Incumbent | 46 days | [27][28] |