6th Space Warning Squadron
6th Space Warning Squadron
 | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Active | 1979-present |
| Country |
 United States |
| Branch |
 United States Air Force |
| Role | Missile warning and space surveillance |
| Part of | Air Force Space Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Cape Cod Air Force Station |
| Motto(s) | Ever Aware |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Website | capecodafs.com |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lt Col David R. Anderson |
| Insignia | |
| 6th Space Warning Squadron emblem (approved 31 March 1995) |
 |
.jpg)
The 6th Space Warning Squadron is located at Cape Cod Air Force Station, in Sandwich, Massachusetts. It operates the PAVE PAWS radar to watch for submarine launched and intercontinental ballistic missiles launched toward North America. The squadron is assigned to the 21st Space Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The squadron was first organized in October 1979 as the 6th Missile Warning Squadron
Mission
The mission of the 6th SWS is to observe United States coasts for incoming sea–launched or intercontinental ballistic missiles using the PAVE PAWS radar system. Also, the 6th is to determine the potential threat of the numbers and destination of incoming missiles; then report continuous information to the North American Aerospace Defense Command, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Air Combat Command, and NORTHCOM.[1]
History
The 6th Space Warning Squadron was founded at Cape Cod Missile Early Warning Station in August 1977. It was the first squadron in the country to be equipped with PAVE PAWS.[2] The squadron also had a detachment at North Truro Air Force Station from 1977 to 1985, when the station closed and operations at the accompanying radar dome were taken over by the Federal Aviation Administration. The 2165th Communications Squadron was a separate tenant at CCAFS until 1986 when it was merged with the 6th SWS.
Lineage
- Constituted as the 6th Missile Warning Squadron
- Activated on 1 October 1979
- Redesignated 6th Space Warning Squadron on 15 May 1992
Assignments
- 21st Air Division, 1 October 1979
- Aerospace Defense Command 1 October 1979
- 45th Air Division, 1 December 1979
- 1st Space Wing, 1 May 1983
- 21st Operations Group, 15 May 1992 – present
Stations
- Cape Cod Air Force Station, Massachusetts, 1 October 1979 – present
Commanders
- Lt Col Paul S. Hamilton (14 Dec 2004 - 10 Aug 2006) [3]
- Lt Col Craig Z. Lowry (29 June 1995-???)[4]
- Col William R. Smith
- Col Mario V. Mascola
- Col Richard Cable
Awards and Decorations
- 2004 Partridge Slemon Award as North American Aerospace Defense Command’s most outstanding unit for its support of the common defense and partnership in protecting the U.S. and Canadian homelands[8]
References
- ↑ Global Security: 6th SWS Mission
- ↑ Global Security: PAVE-PAWS
- ↑ 21st Space Wing Roster of Key Personnel (as of 1 Aug 2006)
- ↑ AFHRA FOIA Req 09-0061: 21st Space Wing Roster of Key Personnel (as of 31 December 1996)
- ↑ AFSPC Special Order GA-62, 6 December 1999
- ↑ AFSPC Special Order GA-58, 6 December 1999
- ↑ AFSPC Special Order GA-09, 1 November 1997
- ↑ NORAD Public Affairs Post Tuesday, May 3, 2005
Note
PAVE PAWS generates information on the location and velocity of earth-orbiting satellites to NORAD.
External links
Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||