United States Space Command
Encyclopedia
The United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) was a Unified Combatant Command
of the United States Department of Defense
, created in 1985 to help institutionalize the use of outer space
by the United States Armed Forces. The Commander in Chief of U.S. Space Command (CINCUSSPACECOM), with headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base
, Colorado
was also the Commander in Chief of the binational U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command
(CINCNORAD), and for the majority of time during USSPACECOM’s existence also the Commander of the U.S. Air Force major command Air Force Space Command
. Military space operations coordinated by USSPACECOM proved to be very valuable for the U.S.-led coalition in the 1991 Persian Gulf War
.
The U.S. military has relied on satellite communications, intelligence, navigation, missile warning and weather systems in areas of conflict since at least the early 1990s, including the Balkans, Southwest Asia and Afghanistan. Space systems have since then been considered as indispensable providers of tactical information to U.S. forces.
As part of the ongoing initiative to transform the U.S. military, on June 26, 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
announced that U.S. Space Command would merge with USSTRATCOM. The Unified Command Plan directed that Unified Combatant Command
s be capped at ten, and with the formation of the new United States Northern Command
, one would have to be deactivated in order to maintain that level. Thus the USSPACECOM merger into an expanded USSTRATCOM, which would retain the U.S. Strategic Command name and would be headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base
. The merger was intended to improve combat effectiveness and speeds up information collection and assessment needed for strategic decision-making.
Within STRATCOM, responsibilities for space were first held by the Joint Functional Component Command for Space and Global Strike
until July 2006 when the command was divided. Space operations are now overseen by the Joint Functional Component Command for Space
.
Unified Combatant Command
A Unified Combatant Command is a United States Department of Defense command that is composed of forces from at least two Military Departments and has a broad and continuing mission. These commands are established to provide effective command and control of U.S. military forces, regardless of...
of the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, created in 1985 to help institutionalize the use of outer space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
by the United States Armed Forces. The Commander in Chief of U.S. Space Command (CINCUSSPACECOM), with headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force located at Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States and it provides runways for the adjacent City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport under a shared joint civil-military airport arrangement...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
was also the Commander in Chief of the binational U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
(CINCNORAD), and for the majority of time during USSPACECOM’s existence also the Commander of the U.S. Air Force major command Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
. Military space operations coordinated by USSPACECOM proved to be very valuable for the U.S.-led coalition in the 1991 Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
The U.S. military has relied on satellite communications, intelligence, navigation, missile warning and weather systems in areas of conflict since at least the early 1990s, including the Balkans, Southwest Asia and Afghanistan. Space systems have since then been considered as indispensable providers of tactical information to U.S. forces.
As part of the ongoing initiative to transform the U.S. military, on June 26, 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
announced that U.S. Space Command would merge with USSTRATCOM. The Unified Command Plan directed that Unified Combatant Command
Unified Combatant Command
A Unified Combatant Command is a United States Department of Defense command that is composed of forces from at least two Military Departments and has a broad and continuing mission. These commands are established to provide effective command and control of U.S. military forces, regardless of...
s be capped at ten, and with the formation of the new United States Northern Command
United States Northern Command
United States Northern Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States military. Created on 1 October 2002 in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks, its mission is to protect the United States homeland and support local, state, and federal authorities...
, one would have to be deactivated in order to maintain that level. Thus the USSPACECOM merger into an expanded USSTRATCOM, which would retain the U.S. Strategic Command name and would be headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S...
. The merger was intended to improve combat effectiveness and speeds up information collection and assessment needed for strategic decision-making.
Within STRATCOM, responsibilities for space were first held by the Joint Functional Component Command for Space and Global Strike
Joint Functional Component Command for Space and Global Strike
Joint Functional Component Command for Space and Global Strike was a component of the United States Strategic Command. It was headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. The Commander, JFCC SGS was dual hatted as the Commander, Eighth Air Force and Commander, JFCC SGS...
until July 2006 when the command was divided. Space operations are now overseen by the 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...
.
Commanders
| Name | Photo | Start | End | Notable offices held before or after | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Robert T. Herres Robert T. Herres Robert Tralles Herres was the first Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.-Early life and education:Herres was born in 1932, in Denver, where he attended East High School. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1954... , USAF |
 |
1985 | 1987 | 1st Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the second highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces ranking just below the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff... (1987–1990) |
| 2 | General John L. Piotrowski John L. Piotrowski General John Louis Piotrowski is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force , from 1985 to 1987; and Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander in Chief, U.S... , USAF |
 |
1987 | 1990 | 22nd Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force The Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force is the second highest ranking military officer in the United States Air Force. In the event that the Chief of Staff of the Air Force is absent or is unable to perform his duties, the VCSAF assumes the duties and responsibilities of the CSAF... (1985–1987) |
| 3 | General Donald J. Kutyna Donald J. Kutyna General Donald Joseph Kutyna is a retired United States Air Force Officer. He was commander in chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Space Command from 1990 to 1992, and commander of Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado from 1987 to 1990... , USAF |
 |
1990 | 1992 | Member of the Rogers Commission Rogers Commission Report The Rogers Commission Report was created by a Presidential Commission charged with investigating the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster during its 10th mission, STS-51-L... (1986–1988) |
| 4 | General Charles A. "Chuck" Horner Chuck Horner Charles Albert Horner is a retired USAF general. He was born in Davenport, Iowa and attended the University of Iowa, as part of the Air Force ROTC program. On June 13, 1958, Horner was commissioned into the Air Force Reserve. During the Vietnam War, he flew in combat as a Wild Weasel pilot and... , USAF |
 |
June, 1992 | September, 1994 | Commander, 9th Air Force, and Commander, U.S. Central Command Air Forces United States Central Command The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense... (1987–1992), he led U.S. and allied air operations for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. |
| 5 | General Joseph W. Ashy Joseph W. Ashy General Joseph William Ashy, USAF was commander in chief of North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Space Command, and commander of Air Force Space Command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado... , USAF |
 |
September, 1994 | August, 1996 | |
| 6 | General Howell M. Estes III Howell M. Estes III General Howell M. Estes III served as commander in chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command , United States Space Command , and commander, Air Force Space Command , headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado... , USAF |
 |
August, 1996 | August 14, 1998 | |
| 7 | General Richard B. Myers, USAF |  |
August 14, 1998 | February 22, 2000 | 5th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the second highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces ranking just below the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff... (2000–2001) 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense... (2001–2005) |
| 8 | General Ralph E. "Ed" Eberhart Ralph Eberhart General Ralph Edward "Ed" Eberhart was Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He was in charge of NORAD on 9/11.... , USAF |
 |
February 22, 2000 | October 1, 2002 | 27th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force The Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force is the second highest ranking military officer in the United States Air Force. In the event that the Chief of Staff of the Air Force is absent or is unable to perform his duties, the VCSAF assumes the duties and responsibilities of the CSAF... (1997–1999) Commander, United States Northern Command United States Northern Command United States Northern Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States military. Created on 1 October 2002 in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks, its mission is to protect the United States homeland and support local, state, and federal authorities... (2002–2005) |