United States Space Force
The United States Space Force (USSF) is the space service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and the world's only independent space force. Along with its sister branch, the U.S. Air Force, the Space ...
North Dakota
North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minnesota to the east, So ...
.
Mission
10 SWS provides tactical warning and attack assessment of sea-launched and intercontinental ballistic missiles launched against the continental United States and southern Canada. Additionally, 10 SWS provides surveillance, tracking and space object identification for the
United States Space Command
United States Space Command (USSPACECOM or SPACECOM) is a unified combatant command of the United States Department of Defense, responsible for military operations in outer space, specifically all operations 100 kilometers (62 miles) and grea ...
The unit was originally the acquisition radar portion of the United States' only operational anti-ballistic missile system, known as SAFEGUARD. Due to the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (SALT II), components of the SAFEGUARD complex, with the exception of the PARCS radar at Cavalier Space Force Station, were deactivated in February 1976.
The forerunner of the present day 10th SWS began passing tactical warning and attack assessment data to the
Cheyenne Mountain Complex
The Cheyenne Mountain Complex is a Space Force installation and defensive bunker located in unincorporated El Paso County, Colorado, next to the city of Colorado Springs, at the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, which hosts the activities o ...
, Colo., in January 1977. In December 1979 the unit was transferred from Aerospace Defense Command to Strategic Air Command.
The unit, as it exists today, joined Air Force Space Command in 1983 as Detachment 5, 1st Space Wing. On 10 July 1986, the unit was redesignated as the 10th Missile Warning Squadron, and was activated on 1 August 1986. It was renamed the 10th Space Warning Squadron on May 15, 1992, when the
1st Space Wing
The 1st Space Wing was a wing of the United States Air Force active from 1983 to 1992 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado as part of Air Force Space Command.
and
3d Space Support Wing
The 3d Space Support Wing (3 SSW) was a List of wings of the United States Air Force, wing of the United States Air Force active from 1986 to 1992 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado as part of Air Force Space Command.21st Space Wing was activated.
Previous Designations
*10th Space Warning Squadron (15 May 1992–Present)
*10th Missile Warning Squadron (10 July 1986 – 15 May 1992)
*Detachment 5, 1st Space Wing (1983-10 July 1986)
Assignments
Major Command
*
Air Force Space Command
The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...
Aerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was established in 1946, briefly ina ...
1st Space Wing
The 1st Space Wing was a wing of the United States Air Force active from 1983 to 1992 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado as part of Air Force Space Command.
(1983-15 May 1992)
List of commanders
*Lt Col Donald T. Kidd, 19 August 1996 – 30 Mar 1998
*Lt Col Ling Yung, ~2005
*Lt Col Keith W. Balts, June 2007 – June 2009
*Lt Col Lorinda Frederick, 14 June 2011 – ~10 July 2013
*Lt Col Michelle R. Kneupper, 10 July 2013 – ~July 2015
*Lt Col John M. Koehler II, July 2015 – ~23 June 2017
*Lt Col Stephen A. Hobbs, 23 June 2017 – 11 June 2019
*Lt Col Ryan Durand, 11 June 2019 – 11 June 2021
*Lt Col Travis Kennebeck, 11 June 2021 – present
Decorations
*
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
The Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award (ASOUA) is one of the unit awards of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. It was established in 1954 as the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and was the first independent Air Force d ...
**1 January 1998 – 31 December 1998
**1 October 1997 – 30 September 1999
**1 October 1995 – 30 September 1997
**1 October 1988 – 30 November 1989AFHRA Lineage and Honors: 10th Space Warning Squadron