United States Space Forces – Central Explained

Unit Name:United States Space Forces – Central
Start Date:2 December 2022; months
Type:Component field command
Role:Space operations
Size:28 personnel
Command Structure:United States Central Command
Garrison:MacDill Air Force Base, Florida
Garrison Label:Headquarters
Commander1:Col Christopher S. Putman
Commander1 Label:Commander
Commander2:Brian Bracy[1]
Commander2 Label:Deputy Commander
Commander3:CMSgt Jeffery J. Grela[2]
Commander3 Label:Senior Enlisted Leader

The United States Space Forces – Central (USSPACEFOR-CENT) is the United States Space Force component field command to the United States Central Command. Headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, it plans, coordinates, supports, and conducts employment of space operations across the full range of military operations, including security cooperation, in support of the combatant command's objectives.[3] [4] It was activated on 2 December 2022.[5]

History

Director of Space Forces, U.S. Air Forces Central

USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC's presence in the United States Central Command traces back to the director of space forces (DIRSPACEFOR) construct before the establishment of the Space Force. When the Space Force was still Air Force Space Command, there would be a space operations officer called the DIRSPACEFOR in every air service component command that would advise the air component commander on matters relating to space operations.[3] As such, there was a director of space forces assigned to United States Air Forces Central.[6]

List of directors of space forces

Assistant Combined Air Operations Center Director for Space and Information Warfare

  1. Brig Gen Richard E. Webber, October 2001 – March 2002

Directors of Space Forces

Establishment

Initial plans for establishment of Space Force component field commands started in 2021 when then Colonel Anthony Mastalir was assigned as director of space forces at the Ninth Air Force and stand up the USSPACEFOR-CENT. USSPACEFOR-CENT was supposed to be the first Space Force component field command.[3] In November 2021, Secretary Frank Kendall III approved the creation of Space Force elements in U.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, but establishing those elements as component commands required Joint Chiefs of Staff approval.[18]

By May 2022, plans were changed to first establish the United States Space Forces Indo-Pacific (USSPACEFOR-CENT) because China being the pacing threat.[19] [20] [21] Mastalir then returned to Vandenberg and was replaced by Colonel Christopher S. Putman as director of space forces. On 22 November 2022, USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC was established and Mastalir took the helm as its first commander.[22]

Prior to the establishment of USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC, General David D. Thompson announced that the USSPACEFOR-CENT would be established shortly after the establishment of USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC.[23] [24] On 2 December 2022, USSPACEFOR-CENT was established. It is initially composed of 28 personnel and Putman serves as its first commander.[25]

On March 12, 2024, the component field command established the U.S. Space Forces Central Combat Detachment 3-1 (CDet 3-1), tasked with providing command and control for SPACECENT teams in the region that provide space-based capabilities such as missile warning detection, ensuring reliable communications and GPS.[26]

Structure

Heraldry

Emblem

The USSPACEFOR-CENT emblem has for elements:[27]

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianbracy/
  2. Web site: CMSgt Jeffery J. Grela. www.spaceforce.mil.
  3. Web site: Space Force planning for new component in the Middle East alongside AFCENT. Rachel. Cohen. 11 August 2021. Air Force Times.
  4. Web site: Space Force, COVID, and Space Launch Delta 30 – Reflecting on Col Mastalir's legacy at the. Vandenberg Space Force Base.
  5. Web site: Space Force to Establish Components for INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, Korea by End of 2022. Greg. Hadley. 2 November 2022.
  6. https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/pacaf/publication/afi13-103_pacafsup/afi13-103_pacafsup.pdf
  7. Web site: LIEUTENANT GENERAL JAMES K. "KEVIN" MCLAUGHLIN. www.af.mil.
  8. Web site: MAJOR GENERAL MARTIN WHELAN. www.af.mil.
  9. https://www.afspc.af.mil/Portals/3/documents/HF/AFD-080226-050.pdf
  10. Web site: New commander takes reins of 595th Space Group. Schriever Space Force Base (Archived).
  11. Web site: Col Keith W. Balts. militaryhallofhonor.com.
  12. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-hough/
  13. Web site: Using Space on the Battlefield. 2 March 2018. Air & Space Forces Magazine.
  14. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dewittmorgan/
  15. Web site: ADF-Colorado hails Middleton, farewells Brig.Gen. Povak. National Reconnaissance Office.
  16. http://opce.uah.edu/docs/2024BusinessofSpace-Biography-ColToddBenson-HQ-USSF-S5-Mar2024.pdf
  17. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-putman-2400a19/
  18. Web site: Space Force takes first step to establish components in commands from Europe to Asia. Breaking Defense. Theresa. Hitchens. 29 November 2021.
  19. Web site: Space Force Prepares for Decision on Indo-Pacific Command Service Component. 19 May 2022. Mahshie. Abraham. Air Force Magazine.
  20. Web site: Space Force, Pentagon still hashing out service's presence in theater commands. Breaking Defense. Theresa. Hitchens. 20 May 2022.
  21. Web site: New Space Force Service Component Targets China Threat. 2022-05-19. Roaten. Meredith. National Defense Magazine.
  22. Web site: Space Force Stands Up Its First Geographic Component Command, Prioritizing the Pacific. 22 November 2022.
  23. Web site: Space Force to Get New CSO, INDOPACOM Component in November, Vice Chief Says . Air Force Magazine . 25 October 2022 . Hadley . Greg.
  24. Web site: Space Force to Establish Components for INDOPACOM, CENTCOM, Korea by End of 2022. Air & Space Forces Magazine. Greg. Hadley. 2 November 2022.
  25. Web site: Space Force set to establish CENTCOM-focused component. Stars and Stripes.
  26. Web site: SPACECENT stands up new combat detachment. 2024-03-28. United States Space Force.
  27. Web site: Facebook. www.facebook.com.

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