Space Delta 6 | |
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![]() Delta emblem | |
Founded | 24 July 2020 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Delta |
Role | Cyberspace operations |
Size | More than 1,000 personnel[1] |
Part of | Space Operations Command |
Headquarters | Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S. |
Website | www |
Commanders | |
Commander | Col Christopher A. Kennedy |
Vice Commander | Lt Col Justin Roque[2] |
Deputy Director | Shane Swenson[3] |
Senior Enlisted Leader | CMSgt 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]
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.
Space Delta 6's emblem consists of the following elements:[13]
Vietnam:
No. | Commander | Term | Ref | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | ||
1 | Roy V. Rockwell | Colonel24 July 2020 | 9 September 2022 | 2 years, 47 days | [29] | |
2 | Christopher A. Kennedy | Colonel9 September 2022 | Incumbent | 1 year, 304 days | [1][30] |