16th Space Control Squadron

16th Space Control Squadron
Active 1966-1993; 2007-Present[1][2]
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Space Control
Role Passive Radio Frequency Surveillance[3]
Size 123[1]
Part of AFSPC/14 AF/21 SW
Garrison/HQ Peterson AFB, Colorado[4]
Motto(s) TUTAMINE VICTORIA - From a strong defense, victory[4]
Commanders
Current
commander		 Lt Col Ernest Schmitt

The 16th Space Control Squadron is the Air Force's premier defensive space control unit. The squadron protects critical satellite communication links by employing multiple weapon systems to achieve a near-global capability to detect, characterize, geolocate and report sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI) on US military and commercial satellites. The squadron also provides combat-ready crews to deploy and employ defensive space control capabilities for theater combatant commanders. The squadron is assigned to the 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, Colorado.

Mission

Operating space control capabilities to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile space superiority in support of theater campaigns.

History

16 SPCS was activated in November 1966 as the 16th Surveillance Squadron, Shemya AFS, Alaska, under Air Defense Command. The unit’s mission was to operate the Cobra Dane long-range early warning radar system, used to track Soviet missile launches. It was assigned to the 73rd Aerospace Surveillance Wing in January 1967 and then to the 14th Aerospace Force in April 1971.

The unit was again reassigned in 1983, this time to the 1st Space Wing as one of the original squadrons in the newly established Air Force Space Command. In 1991, it was assigned to the 73rd Space Group. In 1992, the unit was designated the 16th Space Surveillance Squadron. The unit was inactivated in 1994.

The unit was reactivated at Peterson AFB in May 2007 under the 21st Space Wing to operate the Air Force’s premier defensive counterspace system.

Previous designations

Bases stationed

Commanders

Decorations

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 AFSPC Public Affairs: "New squadron activates at Peterson", 16 May 2007 Archived 2 May 2009 at WebCite
  2. ↑ Air Force Association: "Space Almanac 2007", Aug 2007
  3. ↑ Space News.com: "U.S. Air Force System to Pinpoint Interference Sources", 15 Nov 2004 Archived 25 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. 1 2 "Peterson AFB: 16th Space Control Squadron Factsheet". Peterson.af.mil. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  5. ↑ "Cromwell International: "General Information", 10 April 2008". Cromwell-intl.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  6. ↑ ""UNITED STATES SPACE COMMAND Space Lexicon, UPAM13-1", 30 Jun 1994". FAS.org. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  7. ↑ "16th Space Control Squadron". Archived from the original on 4 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "The Colorado Springs Gazette: "Peterson at front of battle for radio waves", 4 Jun 2007". Findarticles.com. 4 June 2007. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  9. ↑ "Cass City Chronicle: "TSgt Charles J. Hill is presented the Meritorious Service Medal and accompanying citation at Shemya AFB, Alaska, by Lt Col John Perkins, commander of the 16th Surveillance Squadron", 18 Nov 1976" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  10. ↑ "Gen Lincoln D. "Linc" Faurer" Obituary at Findagrave.com".
  11. ↑ PACAF Special Order GB-250, 1993
  12. ↑ AFSPC Special Order GA-095, 1992
  13. ↑ DAF Special Order GB-280, 1984
  14. ↑ DAF Special Order GB-121, 1983
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