9th Space Operations Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 9th Space Operations Squadron (9 SOPS) 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 Functional Component Command for Space
to command and control space forces by providing worldwide space effects to combatant commanders.
, and augment the active duty in day-to-day operations of the 14th Air Force. The AOC is a 24-hour operation center designed to provide commanders with up-to-date information on the status of Air Force satellites. The satellites provide weather, intelligence, communication and navigational data necessary for strategic planning of U.S. military operations.
"We don't operate any particular systems; it's our job to monitor, direct and integrate the systems that are already there," said Phelps.
"Reservists provide a strong foundation of knowledge and experience to the mission," said Ansted. "There's continuous rollover on active duty, and our personnel provide stability because they're usually there for six years. They retain corporate knowledge of the systems and pass that along to their active-duty counterparts when they arrive."
At the 9th SOPS activation ceremony, Maj. Gen. Robert Hinson, 14th Air Force commander at Vandenberg, said reliance on the Reserve and Air National Guard has increased since the end of the Cold War.
"Our ability to ... maintain our nation's superiority in space is dependent upon them (Guard and Reserve) as critical contributors to part of a cohesive total force," said Hinson. (Courtesy of Air Force Reserve Command News Service)
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...
's 9th Space Operations Squadron (9 SOPS) is a space operations unit located at Vandenberg AFB, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. 9 SOPS operates 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...
, or JSpOC, performing combat operations, plans, strategy and intelligence assessments enabling the commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space
Joint Functional Component Command for Space
The Joint Functional Component Command for Space is a component of US Strategic Command. The Command was established on 19 July 2006, and activated on 12 September 2006, under the command of General William L. Shelton...
to command and control space forces by providing worldwide space effects to combatant commanders.
Mission
9th SOPS is an associate unit to the 614th Air and Space Operations Center614th 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 augment the active duty in day-to-day operations of the 14th Air Force. The AOC is a 24-hour operation center designed to provide commanders with up-to-date information on the status of Air Force satellites. The satellites provide weather, intelligence, communication and navigational data necessary for strategic planning of U.S. military operations.
History
The AOC provides the means for tracking and monitoring the status of 141 space units worldwide, said Lt. Col. Patrick Phelps, 9th SOPS commander. These units provide the data for surveillance, space warning, satellite command and control, and space launch capabilities."We don't operate any particular systems; it's our job to monitor, direct and integrate the systems that are already there," said Phelps.
"Reservists provide a strong foundation of knowledge and experience to the mission," said Ansted. "There's continuous rollover on active duty, and our personnel provide stability because they're usually there for six years. They retain corporate knowledge of the systems and pass that along to their active-duty counterparts when they arrive."
At the 9th SOPS activation ceremony, Maj. Gen. Robert Hinson, 14th Air Force commander at Vandenberg, said reliance on the Reserve and Air National Guard has increased since the end of the Cold War.
"Our ability to ... maintain our nation's superiority in space is dependent upon them (Guard and Reserve) as critical contributors to part of a cohesive total force," said Hinson. (Courtesy of Air Force Reserve Command News Service)