Space Delta 4 (DEL 4) is a United States Space Force unit responsible for providing strategic and theater missile warning to the United States and its international partners. It operates three constellations of Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) satellites and two types of Ground-Based Radars (GBRs) for the purpose of conducting strategic and theater missile warning. Additionally, DEL 4 provides tipping and cueing to missile defense forces, battlespace awareness to combatant commanders and technical intelligence for further analysis and manages weapon system architectures and ensures operations are intelligence-led, cyber-resilient, and driven by innovation, while postured to operate in a contested, degraded, and operationally-limited environment.[7][8]
Space Delta 4 | |
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![]() Emblem of Space Delta 4 | |
Founded | 24 July 2020 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Delta |
Role | Missile warning |
Size | 1,200 personnel[1] |
Part of | ![]() |
Headquarters | Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S. |
Motto(s) | Latin: Videmus Mundum, lit. 'We see the world.'[2] |
Website | www |
Commanders | |
Commander | Col Ernest R. Schmitt |
Vice Commander | Lt Col Andrew Downey[3] Lt Col Richard Fancer[4] Lt Col Michael L. Hall[5] |
Senior Enlisted Leader | CMSgt Kyle T. Mullen[6] |
Insignia | |
Guidon | ![]() |
Activated on 24 July 2020, the delta is headquartered at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.[7][9]
History
editDEL 4 was based on the previous 460th Operations Group, 460th Space Wing and 21st Operations Group, 21st Space Wing.[10][11]
In lineage terms, the delta was originally established as 460 Operations Group (460 SW) on 2 August 2004.[12] It was activated on 19 August 2004. It was redesignated as Space Delta 4 on 24 July 2020. Its status changed officially from a unit of the United States Air Force to a unit of the United States Space Force on 21 October 2020.
In 2023, Space Delta 4 assumed control of the U.S. Army's Joint Tactical Ground Station.[8]
Structure
editList of commanders
editNo. | Commander | Term | Ref | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Duration | ||
1 | Richard L. Bourquin | Colonel24 July 2020 | 15 July 2021 | 356 days | [20] | |
2 | Miguel A. Cruz | Colonel15 July 2021 | 21 July 2023 | 2 years, 6 days | [1][21] | |
3 | Ernest R. Schmitt | Colonel21 July 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 28 days | [22][23] |
References
edit- ^ a b "CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TAMMIE D. GAUDU". www.buckley.spaceforce.mil. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "DEL 4 Motto". Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021 – via www.facebook.com.
- ^ "LT. COL. ANDREW DOWNEY > Buckley Space Force Base > Display". Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-fancher-70a5097b/
- ^ "Michael L. Hall". Buckley Space Force Base.
- ^ "Chief Master Sergeant Kyle T. Mullen". Buckley Space Force Base.
- ^ a b "Buckley Air Force Base Units". Buckley Air Force Base. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Buckley Air Force Base Biographies". Buckley Air Force Base. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Space Force Organisations Take Shape Archived August 11, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, July 24, 2020.
- ^ "Space Delta 4 - Missile Warning". Buckley Air Force Base. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ "Space Delta 4 (SpOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Space Delta 4 - Missile Warning". Buckley Space Force Base. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ "Space Delta 4". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- ^ Culbertson, Kelsey (November 9, 2023). "U.S. Space Force Detachment Activates in Italy". DVIDS. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
- ^ Rognstad, Aaron (April 6, 2020). "JTAGS initial entry course teaches missile detection". U.S. Army. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
- ^ Williams, Sarah (November 9, 2023). "5th Space Warning Squadron keeps eyes in the sky". DVIDS. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
- ^ Gordnier, Trevor (November 17, 2023). "5th Space Warning Squadron Detachment 3 activates". 7th Air Force. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
- ^ Bolfing, Brieana (October 26, 2023). "JTAGS mission transfers from Army to Space Force". 5th Air Force. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
- ^ "COLONEL RICHARD L. BOURQUIN". www.buckley.spaceforce.mil. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
- ^ "DEL 4 receives new commander". Buckley Space Force Base. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ "Space Delta 4 welcomes new commander". Buckley Space Force Base. July 21, 2023. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ "Ernest R. "Bobby" Schmitt". Buckley Space Force Base.
- ^ This detachment location is inferred based on the locations of the detachments of the 1st Space Company, 1st Space Battalion of the U.S. Army, of which there were four. This unit is what was absorbed by the Space Force to become the 5th Space Warning Squadron. This detachment was previously known as JTAGS-Qatar under the Army.[16]