Space Delta 6
Delta emblem
Founded24 July 2020; 3 years ago (2020-07-24)
Country United States
Branch United States Space Force
TypeDelta
RoleCyberspace operations
SizeMore than 1,000 personnel[1]
Part ofSpace Operations Command
HeadquartersSchriever Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S.
Websitewww.schriever.spaceforce.mil/Units/Space-Delta-6/
Commanders
CommanderCol Christopher A. Kennedy
Vice CommanderLt Col Justin Roque[2]
Deputy DirectorShane Swenson[3]
Senior Enlisted LeaderCMSgt Joseph E. Laughlin Jr.[4]

Space Delta 6 (DEL 6) is a United States Space Force unit which assures access to space through the $6.8 billion Satellite Control Network and defensive cyberspace capabilities for space mission systems.[5]

Tracing its history to 1965, the delta is headquartered at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado.[6][7][8] It replaced the 50th Network Operations Group, which had been part of the former 50th Space Wing.[8][9] On 23 June 2021, the 614th Air and Space Communications Squadron, previously under Space Delta 5, was redesignated as the 65th Cyber Squadron and transferred into Space Delta 6.[10]

History

The delta was first organized as the 1879th Communications Squadron during the Vietnam War in 1965.[11] It formed part of the 1964th Communications Group providing communications for the U.S. Air Force in South Vietnam. In 1971, as American participation in the Vietnam War was reduced and United States Air Force closed down its activities at Nha Trang Air Base, the squadron was moved to Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri, where it absorbed the mission, personnel and equipment of the 2009th Communications Squadron, which was inactivated.

The unit moved to its present location, then named Falcon Air Force Station,[11] when Richards-Gebaur was turned over to the Air Force Reserve. The 1879th assumed the resources of the 2184th Communications Squadron at Falcon. When the 2d Space Wing was inactivated in 1992 the 1879th was inactivated with it and its mission was taken over by the 50th Satellite Communications Squadron.

The expanded space communications mission at Schriever Air Force Base led to the activation of the unit, now designated the 50th Communications Group. In 2002 the group was inactivated and its components transferred to the 50th Maintenance Group. This action was reversed less than a year later.

In March 2004 the group was re-designated the 50th Network Operations Group, and took control of the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd Space Operations Squadrons to consolidate control of the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN).

The 50th Network Operations Group was re-designated as Delta 6 on July 24, 2020.

Structure in 2020

Emblem symbolism

Space Delta 6's emblem consists of the following elements:[13]

Structure

Emblem Name Function Headquarters Cyberspace systems Detachments
Squadrons
21st Space Operations Squadron Pacific Satellite Control Network operations, Global Positioning System ground infrastructure, Western Range launch support, and defensive cyber operations[14] Vandenberg Space Force Base, California Satellite Control Network Detachment 1: Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory
Detachment 2: Joint Region Marianas, Guam
Kaena Point Air Force Station, Hawaii
Operating Location: Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, Marshall Islands
22nd Space Operations Squadron[15] Satellite Control Network command and control[16] Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado Satellite Control Network
23rd Space Operations Squadron Atlantic Satellite Control Network operations, Global Positioning System ground infrastructure, and Eastern Range launch support[17] New Boston Space Force Station, New Hampshire Satellite Control Network Detachment 1: Pituffik Space Base, Greenland
Operating Location: RAF Ascension Island, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Operating Location: RAF Oakhanger, United Kingdom
Operating Location: Patrick Space Force Base, Florida
62nd Cyberspace Squadron Defensive cyber operations Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado
64th Cyberspace Squadron Defensive cyber operations Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado[18]
65th Cyberspace Squadron[10] Defensive cyber operations[5] Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
68th Cyberspace Squadron Defensive cyber operations Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado
69th Cyberspace Squadron Defensive cyber operations Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado
645th Cyberspace Squadron Defensive cyber operations Patrick Space Force Base, Florida

Lineage

Redesignated 1879th Information Systems Squadron on 1 July 1985
Redesignated 1879th Communications Squadron on 1 November 1986
Redesignated 1879th Communications Group on 1 October 1989
Inactivated 30 January 1992
Activated 1 December 1997
Inactivated 1 October 2002
Redesignated 50th Network Operations Group on 10 March 2004
Redesignated as Space Delta 6 on 24 July 2020

Assignments

Stations

Honors and campaigns

Campaign streamers

Vietnam:

Decorations

Other awards
2007[19]
2008[20]

List of commanders

Space Delta 6

No. Commander Term Ref
Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
1
Roy V. Rockwell
Rockwell, Roy V.Colonel
Roy V. Rockwell		24 July 20209 September 20222 years, 47 days[29]
2
Christopher A. Kennedy
Kennedy, Christopher A.Colonel
Christopher A. Kennedy		9 September 2022Incumbent1 year, 130 days[1][30]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Space Delta 6.
  1. ^ a b "DEL 6 receives new commander". Space Base Delta 1. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  2. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-roque-68151815b/[bare URL]
  3. ^ "Shane Swenson, MBA, CISSP - Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States | Professional Profile | LinkedIn".
  4. ^ "Chief Master Sergeant Joseph E. Laughlin Jr". Peterson and Schriever Space Force Base.
  5. ^ a b "Space Delta 6". Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "Delta 8 Fact Sheet". Schriever Air Force Base. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ "Space Force reorganizes former Air Force space wings into "Deltas" and "Garrisons"". SpaceNews. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Space Force Announces Significant Reorganization". Air Force Magazine. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  9. ^ "50th SW activates 750th OG". Schriever Air Force Base. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "614th Air & Space Communications Squadron redesignated as 65th Cyber Squadron". Vandenberg Space Force Base. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Factsheet 50th Network Operations Group". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. April 16, 2015. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  12. ^ "Schriever Space Force Base > Home".
  13. ^ "Space Delta 6 Emblem Explainer".
  14. ^ "21st Space Operations Squadron". Schriever Air Force Base. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  15. ^ Theresa Hitchens (17 May 2023) Space Force ground control operators press for 'absolutely critical' network upgrades Overview of Satellite Control Network
  16. ^ "22nd Space Operations Squadron". Schriever Air Force Base. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  17. ^ "23rd Space Operations Squadron". Schriever Air Force Base. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  18. ^ "AFCEA SIGNAL Media". AFCEA Chapter News. August 25, 2012. Archived from the original on December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  19. ^ Martinez, SSG Daniel (January 22, 2008). "Awards ceremony honors communications, information professionals". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011.
  20. ^ "2008 Annual Air Force Space Command-Level Communications and Information Professional Award Winners". Air Force Space Command Public Affairs. March 19, 2009. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011.
  21. ^ "Change of Command photo". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. July 10, 2006. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011.
  22. ^ Foster, SSG Stacy D. (July 17, 2008). "50th NOG gets new commander". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011.
  23. ^ "Brigadier General Mitchel H Butikofer".
  24. ^ Martinez, SSG Daniel (May 19, 2010). "New commander takes reins of 50th NOG". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011.
  25. ^ Cloys, SSG Robert (April 4, 2012). "New commander leads cyber warriors". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on February 20, 2013.
  26. ^ delos Reyes, SSG Julius (June 6, 2014). "50 NOG changes command". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on November 3, 2014.
  27. ^ "Schriever Space Force Base > Home".
  28. ^ "Schriever Space Force Base > Home".
  29. ^ "Colonel Roy V. Rockwell". www.schriever.spaceforce.mil. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  30. ^ "COL. CHRISTOPHER KENNEDY". www.spacebasedelta1.spaceforce.mil. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
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