Space Delta 8

Space Delta 8 (DEL 8) is the United States Space Force unit responsible for satellite communications and position, navigation, and timing. The Delta operates, among other constellations, the Global Positioning System for both military and civilian users. It is headquartered at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado.

Space Delta 8
Delta emblem
Founded24 July 2020 (2020-07-24)
Country United States
Branch United States Space Force
TypeDelta
RoleSatellite communication and navigation warfare
Size635 personnel[1]
Part of Space Operations Command
HeadquartersSchriever Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S.
Motto(s)"Masters of Space"
WebsiteOfficial website
Commanders
CommanderCol David A. Pheasant
Vice CommandersLt Col Daniel Sebeck and Lt Col Damian Ochs
SuperintendentCMSgt Michael J. Rozneck[2]
Insignia
Guidon

History

Before the founding of an independent Space Force, the Air Force Space Command's (AFSPC) 50th Operations Group (50 OG), part of the 50th Space Wing, performed the satellite communications and position, navigation, and timing missions. As part of the reorganization in the stand-up of Space Force, 50 OG was inactivated and DEL 8 was activated on 24 July 2020.[3][4][5][6] On 8 February 2022, the 50th Operations Support Squadron was inactivated and the 8th Combat Training Squadron was activated.[7]

In September 2021, the Space Force publicly identified Army and Navy SATCOM units that would transfer to DEL 8.[1][8][9] On 6 June 2022, the Naval Satellite Operations Center transferred as the 10th Space Operations Squadron,[10] followed on 29 June 2022 by the Army's 53rd Signal Battalion, which became the 53rd Space Operations Squadron.[11][12]

On 7 July 2022, Colonel David Pheasant, a former Army officer who had once commanded the 53rd Signal Battalion, took command of DEL 8, becoming the first inter-service transfer officer to command a Space Force Delta.[13][14]

Structure

DEL 8 comprises five squadrons, two of which have non-Air Force lineages (10 SOPS Navy; 53 SOPS Army):

Emblem Name Function Headquarters Spacecraft
Squadrons
8th Combat Training Squadron[15]Operational training and certification, tactics development, engineering support, and crew force managementSchriever Space Force Base, Colorado
2nd Space Operations SquadronNavigation warfare[16]Schriever Space Force Base, ColoradoNavstar Global Positioning System
4th Space Operations SquadronSatellite communication[16]Schriever Space Force Base, ColoradoAdvanced Extremely High Frequency
Defense Satellite Communications System Phase III
Military Strategic and Tactical Relay
Wideband Global Satellite Communications[17]
10th Space Operations Squadron[18] Satellite communicationPoint Mugu, CaliforniaMobile User Objective System
Ultra-High Frequency Follow-On
Fleet Satellite Communications System[1]
53rd Satellite Operations SquadronSatellite communicationSchriever Space Force Base, ColoradoWideband Global SATCOM
Defense Satellite Communications System

List of commanders
No. Commander Term Ref
Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
1
Matthew E. Holston
Holston, Matthew E.Colonel
Matthew E. Holston		24 July 20207 July 20221 year, 348 days[19][20]
2
David A. Pheasant
Pheasant, David A.Colonel
David A. Pheasant		7 July 2022Incumbent1 year, 110 days[13][21]

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Space Delta 8.
  1. "Army, Navy satellite operations to consolidate under Space Force". SpaceNews. June 23, 2021. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  2. "Chief Master Sgt. Michael J. Rozneck". www.schriever.spaceforce.mil. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  3. "Space Force Announces Significant Reorganization". Air Force Magazine. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  4. "50th SW activates 750th OG". Schriever Air Force Base. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  5. "Delta 8 Fact Sheet". Schriever Air Force Base. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. "Space Force reorganizes former Air Force space wings into "Deltas" and "Garrisons"". SpaceNews. SpaceNews. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  7. "8th Combat Training Squadron Activation Ceremony". DVIDS. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  8. "Space Force reveals which Army and Navy units are moving to the space branch". SpaceNews. September 21, 2021. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  9. "Army, Navy SATCOM Mission Areas Shifting to U.S. Space Force". United States Space Force. Archived from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  10. "Navy Unit Transfers Into Space Force, Becomes 10th Space Operations Squadron". June 14, 2022. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  11. "Schriever SFB welcomes new space squadron, commander". Space Base Delta 1. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  12. "Army Sat Ops Brigade Transfers To Space Force: Karbler". May 21, 2021. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  13. "Space Delta 8 gains new commander". Space Base Delta 1. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  14. "LTC David Pheasant". www.smdc.army.mil. Archived from the original on May 5, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  15. "8 CTS Activation Ceremony". Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022 – via www.facebook.com.
  16. "2nd Space Operations Squadron". Schriever Air Force Base. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  17. "4th Space Operations Squadron". Schriever Air Force Base. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  18. "Space Delta 8". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  19. "Colonel Matthew E. Holston". www.schriever.spaceforce.mil. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  20. "USSF Virtual Activation & Deactivation Ceremonies". DVIDS. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  21. "Colonel David A. Pheasant". Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
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