16th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron

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16th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Commanders
Current
commander
Lt Col D. J. Thomas
Insignia
16th Surveillance Squadron emblem[2]
16th Space Control Squadron emblem

The 16th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron (16 EWS) is an active

Air Force Space Command
's first defensive counterspace unit.

From 1967 through 1994, the squadron, originally the 16th Surveillance Squadron, operated the

Shemya Air Force Base
, Alaska.

Mission

The 16th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron operates space electromagnetic warfare capabilities to achieve space superiority in support of theater campaigns and

Peterson Air Force Base. Additionally, the three deployable systems are capable of sustained autonomous operations if connectivity is lost.[3]

History

Cobra Dane operation

The

The 16th continued its mission under Air (later Aerospace) Defense Command until the command was disestablished in December 1979.

Air Force Space Command, which assigned the squadron to the 1st Space Wing. In 1991, it was reassigned to the 73rd Space Surveillance Group. In 1992, the unit was designated the 16th Space Surveillance Squadron. It was inactivated in 1994.[1]

Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System

The unit was reactivated at

(RAIDRS).

The RAIDRS prototype, designated the "Satellite Interference Response System" (SIRS), was initially deployed to

380th Space Control Squadron provide the preponderance of the required manpower for this mission.[4]

On 15 April 2022, the 16th Space Control Squadron was redesignated the 16th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron.[5]

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 16th Surveillance Squadron and activated on 1 November 1966 (not organized)
Organized on 1 January 1967
Redesignated 16th Space Surveillance Squadron on 15 May 1992
Inactivated on 1 October 1994
  • Redesignated 16th Space Control Squadron on 4 May 2007
Activated on 16 May 2007[1]
  • Redesignated 16th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron on 15 April 2022

Assignments

  • Air Defense Command, 1 November 1966 (not organized)
  • 73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing, 1 January 1967
  • Fourteenth Aerospace Force, 30 April 1971
  • Alaskan Air Defense Region
    , 1 October 1976
  • 47th Air Division, 1 December 1979
  • 1st Space Wing, 1 May 1983
  • 73d Space Surveillance Group (later 73d Space Group), 1 September 1991 – 1 October 1994
  • 21st Operations Group, 16 May 2007 – 24 July 2020[1]
  • Space Delta 3, 24 July 2020 – Present

Stations

  • Shemya Air Force Station
    (later Shemya Air Force Base, Eareckson Air Force Base), Alaska, 1 January 1967 – 1 October 1994
  • Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado (2007–Present)[1]

Awards

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
1 January 1974 – 31 May 1975 16th Surveillance Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1980 – 30 June 1982 16th Surveillance Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 May 1983 – 30 April 1984 16th Surveillance Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 September 1989 – 31 August 1991 16th Surveillance Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 6 April 1993 16th Surveillance Squadron[1]

List of commanders

  • Lt Col Edward Allard, 2007 – 2009[6]
  • Lt Col Paul Tombarge, 2009 – 2011[7]
  • Lt Col Mark Guerber, ~2013 – ~2015[8]
  • Lt Col Thomas Johnson, ~2015 – ~16 June 2017[9]
  • Lt Col Ernest Schmitt, 16 June 2017 – ~25 June 2019[10]
  • Lt Col Angelo Fernandez, 25 June 2019 – 25 June 2021[11]
  • Lt Col Marshall Tillis, 25 June 2021 – June 2023[12]
  • Lt Col D. J. Thomas, June 2023 – present[13]

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Robertson, Patsy (13 July 2009). "Factsheet 16 Space Control Sq (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Approved insignia for: 16th Surveillance Squadron". National Archives Catalog. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Peterson AFB Library Factsheets: 16th Space Control Squadron". 21st Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 25 October 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Peterson AFB Library Factsheets: 16th Space Control Squadron". 21st Space Wing Public Affairs. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  5. ^ "4th, 5th and 16th SPCS Re-designation".
  6. ^ "Edward Allard". LinkedIn.
  7. ^ "Paul Tombarge". LinkedIn.
  8. ^ "Commander briefs education, safety tips for motorcyclists". 14 May 2015.
  9. ^ "16th SPCS: Defending space at high frequencies".
  10. ^ "16th Space Control Squadron Change of Command".
  11. ^ "16 SPCS receives new commander". DVIDS.
  12. ^ "16th SPCS changes command". Peterson Air Force Base.
  13. better source needed
    ]

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

External links