614th Space Operations Squadron
Encyclopedia
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
(USAF) under Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
(AFSPC). By AFSPC order the unit inactivated 24 May 2007. Its mission and members moved to the Combat Operations Division of the 614th Air and Space Operations Center
614th Air and Space Operations Center
The 614th Air and Space Operations Center is a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air Force / The 614th Air and Space Operations Center (614 AOC) is a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air Force / The 614th Air and Space Operations Center (614 AOC) is a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air...
(614 AOC). The inactivation was part of the larger USAF plan to implement the Numbered Air Force-Component structure.http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123057458 The unit's members became the plankholders of the 614th Air and Space Operations Center
614th Air and Space Operations Center
The 614th Air and Space Operations Center is a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air Force / The 614th Air and Space Operations Center (614 AOC) is a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air Force / The 614th Air and Space Operations Center (614 AOC) is a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air...
and the Joint Space Operations Center
Joint Space Operations Center
Joint Space Operations Center is a command and control weapon system focused on planning and executing US Strategic Command's Joint Functional Component Command for Space mission...
.
Mission
The 614th Space Operations Squadron mission was to provide Air Force Space Command's Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air Force
The Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
Commander (14 AF/CC (AFSTRAT-SP)) and US Strategic Command’s Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space (CDR JFCC SPACE) with the space operations expertise to command and control space forces in continuous support of global and theater operations.
Representing the 14 AF/CC (AFSTRAT-SP) and CDR JFCC SPACE, the 614 SOPS delivered Air Force space force capabilities to users around the globe, 24-hours a day.
History
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Joint Space Operations Center
Joint Space Operations Center is a command and control weapon system focused on planning and executing US Strategic Command's Joint Functional Component Command for Space mission...
(JSpOC) in July 1999 under the command of Major General Robert Hinson (USAF official biography). With the support Headquarters Air Force Space Command, the JSpOC manpower grew to over 100 positions. With the May 2005 ribbon-cutting of the new JSpOC, along with the stand up of the 614th Space Intelligence Squadron
614th Space Intelligence Squadron
The United States Air Force's 614th Space Intelligence Squadron was a unit located at Vandenberg AFB, California. It was inactivated on 2007-06-18 when the 614th Space Operations Group was redesignated the 614 Air and Space Operations Center.-Mission:...
and 614th Space Communications Squadron, as well as the alignment of the 1st Space Control Squadron
1st Space Control Squadron
The United States Air Force's 1st Space Control Squadron was a space situational awareness unit located at Cheyenne Mountain AFS, Colorado and later moved to Vandenberg AFB, California...
under the 614th Space Operations Group, and augmentation of the 9th Space Operations Squadron
9th Space Operations Squadron
The United States Air Force's 9th Space Operations Squadron is a space operations unit located at Vandenberg AFB, California. 9 SOPS operates the Joint Space Operations Center, or JSpOC, performing combat operations, plans, strategy and intelligence assessments enabling the commander, Joint...
(Air Force Reserve) in every joint mission area, the 614 SOPS transitioned from the sole force provider to one of several force providers to the JSpOC.
With the January 2005 stand-up of the 614th Space Communications Squadron, the four Satellite Communication (SATCOM) Support Centers located at Peterson AFB, Colorado; MacDill AFB, Florida; Stuttgart, Germany; and Wahiawa, Hawaii transferred from 614 SOPS administrative control. These operating locations and their twenty-five communications NCOs had been under 614 SOPS control since October 1999.
A combination of the realignment of the Numbered Air Force components with the implementation of Program Action Directive 06-09 (Nov 2006), the redisignation of the 614th Space Operations Group to the 614th Air and Space Operations Center
614th Air and Space Operations Center
The 614th Air and Space Operations Center is a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air Force / The 614th Air and Space Operations Center (614 AOC) is a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air Force / The 614th Air and Space Operations Center (614 AOC) is a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air...
, and the signature of an AFSPC special order, the squadron of inactivated on 24 May 2007. A ceremony celebrating their past and look toward the future was conducted by Maj Gen William L. Shelton
William L. Shelton
William Lee Shelton is a United States Air Force four-star general who serves as the current Commander, Air Force Space Command. He previously was the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and Director, Air Staff. He previously served as Chief of Warfighting Integration and...
on 18 Jun 2007 in front of the HQ 14 AF.
Honors
Members assigned to the 614 SOPS have a distinguished history earning many awards, including the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award in 1998; Air Force Outstanding Unit for 2005, 2006 and 2007; and Air Force Association Citation of Honor for 2006. As a force provider to the Joint Space Operations CenterJoint Space Operations Center
Joint Space Operations Center is a command and control weapon system focused on planning and executing US Strategic Command's Joint Functional Component Command for Space mission...
, the squadron also shared in the honors as the 2005 and 2007 winner of USSTRATCOM's Omaha Trophy for the Best Space and Information Operations Unit.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Emblem
The 614 SOPS patch primary colors were black and gold. Black signifies dignity and determination and gold represents excellence, honor, and high values: the qualities and spirit of the 614 SOPS. The tiger eyes represent the mission for assessing the status of the 14 Air Force space forces. The globe, with the overseas landmasses, symbolizes the squadron’s worldwide mission. Additionally, the Air Force star shows our tie to the original Army Air Corps. The parabolic arch encircling the globe denotes command and control of space forces operating weapons systems traversing through space.The 614 Air and Space Operations Center/Combat Operations Division (614 AOC/COD) patch, shown above, is a morale patch and not approved by Air Force Heraldry. With exception of the top and bottom rockers, the patch is exactly the same as the 614 SOPS patch. The patch was issued to division members after the inactivation of the 614 SOPS.
Chain of Command
- United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
- Air Force Space CommandAir Force Space CommandAir Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
- 14th Air Force (unit was redesignated 14 AF (AFSTRAT-SP) on 24 May 2007)
- 614th Space Operations Group (unit was redesignated 614th Air and Space Operations Center614th Air and Space Operations CenterThe 614th Air and Space Operations Center is a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air Force / The 614th Air and Space Operations Center (614 AOC) is a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air Force / The 614th Air and Space Operations Center (614 AOC) is a subordinate unit of the Fourteenth Air...
(614 AOC) on 24 May 2007)
Past Unit Commanders
- Lt Col James G. Lee, June 1996 - March 1998 (first 614 SOPF/CC)
- Lt Col Teresa A. H. DjuricTeresa A. H. DjuricTeresa A. H. Djuric is a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force.-Career:Djuric joined the Air Force in 1983 and was assigned to North American Aerospace Defense Command at Cheyenne Mountain...
, March 1998 - June 2000 (first 614 SOPS/CC; now Brig Gen, USAF) - Lt Col Cary C. ChunCary C. ChunBrigadier General Cary Comperido Chun is the former Commander of 50th Space Wing, Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. In this position, he was responsible for more than 3,100 military personnel, and Department of Defense civilians and contractor personnel, serving at 50th Space Wing operating...
, June 2000 - June 2002 (now Brig Gen, USAF) - Lt Col Donald McGee, June 2002 - May 2004 (now Colonel, USAF)
- Lt Col Brian Fredrickson, May 2004 - June 2006 (now Colonel, USAF)
- Lt Col B. Chance Saltzman, June 2006 - 24 May 2007 (now Colonel, USAF)